LOS ANGELES — Sunday’s Game Report: Dodgers 5, Cardinals 4
By Rob Rains
With several of their relievers unavailable Sunday night, the Cardinals tried to piece together a way to protect a 4-0 lead and escape Los Angeles with a split of their season-opening four-game series against the Dodgers.
It didn’t happen.
Steven Matz carried that lead into the sixth inning but the bullpen couldn’t pick up where he left off and the Dodgers rallied for the win, the game-winning blow a two-run homer by Max Muncy in the eighth off John King.
King had woken up Sunday in Memphis but was summoned to join the Cardinals when Riley O’Brien had to be placed on the injured list. King had taken over with one out in the eighth after Andre Pallante allowed a home run to Teoscar Hernandez and walked Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers were able to win despite getting only one hit, a double by Shohei Ohtani, out of their top three hitters – Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.
Here is how Sunday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Victor Scott II got his first two hits, beating out an infield single and then hitting a double and both times came around to score, on singles by Paul Goldschmidt and Brendan Donovan. Donovan also earned an RBI when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded … For the second night in a row the Dodgers were called for catcher’s interference, which gave the Cardinals a run. Their two runs in the sixth came on three walks, the hit batter and the catcher’s interference … Nolan Gorman had an infield single but also struck out four times.
On the mound: Matz shut out the Dodgers through the first five innings on just three hits. Ohtani doubled leading off the sixth and scored on a one-out double by Teoscar Hernandez. Matz was pulled at that point, having thrown 81 pitches, the maximum the team wanted him to throw in the game … Andrew Kittredge relieved and allowed another run to score to cut the lead to 4-2 … Pallante worked a 1-2-3 seventh before his troubles in the eighth as the Cardinals suffered their second blown save in as many games … Among the relievers not available were Giovanny Gallegos, Matthew Liberatore and JoJo Romero. Ryan Helsley likely would have pitched the ninth inning had the Cardinals had a lead.
Key stat: Nolan Arenado got his first hit but finishd the four-game series 1-of-16. The cleanup hitter had only three plate appearances in the series with a runner in scoring position, producing one sacrifice fly.
Worth noting: This was the third game in a row when the Cardinals struck out in order in the first inning … O’Brien was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right arm after saying it started hurting on Friday. He returned to St. Louis for further examinations … The Dodgers out-homered the Cardinals 9-1 in the series … Lars Nootbaar is scheduled to join Triple A Memphis on a rehab assignment beginning Tuesday night in Indianapolis. He is eligible to come off the injured list on Thursday … Sonny Gray will start for Memphis on Wednesday night.
Looking ahead: Kyle Gibson will make his Cardinals debut on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series in San Diego. It will be the first game for Mike Shildt managing against the Cardinals.
