Anderson Throws 7 Scoreless Innings, Then Is Upended On Infield Hits
Yadier Molina collected the Cardinals’ second hit of the game with a single to left, but he was then erased on a Heyward groundout that was a near double play. After the Dodgers unsuccessfully challenged the safe call at first base, Anderson struck out Martinez for another scoreless inning.
Martinez returned the favor by striking out Anderson to open the bottom of the fifth. Pederson grounded sharply to Peralta, who got help from Reynolds on a nice dig for the out at first. Rollins remained hitless on the night and the Dodgers were still clinging to their 1-0 lead.
Anderson picked up his fourth strikeout of the game as he retired the Cardinals in order and was up to only 67 pitches. Not to be outdone, Martinez struck out the side after issuing a leadoff walk to Gonzalez. The Cardinals’ right-hander pushed his strikeout total to 10, setting a new career high along the way.
With no one warming up in the Dodgers bullpen Anderson hit for himself in the bottom of the seventh and struck out. He took the mound in the eighth inning for the first time since 2011 and issued a leadoff walk to Molina, who was then lifted in favor of pinch-runner Pete Kozma.
Adam Liberatore began to get loose in the bullpen as Anderson got in his first bit of trouble on a Heyward infield single. Rollins managed to get to the ball to the right of second base, but his flip to Hernandez at second base was off target.
Pinch-hitter Tony Cruz laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners and the Cardinals tied the game on Wong’s RBI infield single to Gonzalez. The ball was slowly hit, which prevented there from being a play at the plate and Gonzalez also decided against tossing the ball over his left shoulder to Hernandez in attempt to get an out at first base.
Carpenter broke the 1-1 tie with a sacrifice fly to right field and Juan Nicasio came on in relief of Anderson. Nicasio recorded the third out of the inning without allowing the Cardinals to add to their lead. Randy Choate got Pederson looking for called strike three and he promptly handed the ball over to Kevin Siegrest.
Gonzalez dropped a bloop single with two outs and was pinch-run for by Chris Heisey. However, getting more speed on the basepaths didn’t make any difference as Grandal lifted a pitch to right field for the third out. Trevor Rosenthal came on in the ninth and protected the 2-1 lead to hand the Dodgers a fourth loss in five games against the Cardinals this season.
[divide]Don Mattingly On Facing The Cardinals Again
