Dodgers rally falls short in loss to Cards

ST. LOUIS — The Dodgers lost 5-4 on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium, and I’m sure it will be the little things that will stick in their mind as they think over this one. The bang-bang play at the plate in the first, the Chris Taylor error in the fourth, the missed opportunities along the way. Cardinal pitcher Adam Wainwright brought his A-game to the stadium, but this was a very winnable game for the Dodgers. Instead, it ends up a loss that puts the Dodgers two games out of first place in the NL West.

Dodgers get one early, but one gunned down

As the game began on Wednesday evening, it looked like the the Dodgers’ offense would pick right up where it left off on Tuesday. After Trea Turner led off the game with a strikeout, Max Muncy and Mookie Betts got back-to-back singles to put the Dodgers in business in the top of the first. Then, a couple of proverbial bad bounces cut a potential big inning short. Hitting clean-up, Corey Seager attempted to do just that, he ripped a solid double off the base of the left field fence that looked like it would score two for sure when it caromed past left fielder Tyler O’Neill.

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the ball bounced right into the waiting arms of center fielder Harrison Bader, who fired a strike into the infield. Muncy scored easily, but Mookie Betts was cut down on the relay for the second out of the inning. Then, Will Smith hit a hot liner up the middle that was headed for the outfield until it was snagged by Cards starter Adam Wainwright. Had Wainwright not gloved the ball, it was a run-scoring single for sure. So, two potential runs, both snuffed out by bad luck, and Dodgers had to be content with just the lone run in the first.

Rough start for Mitch White

Rookie Mitch White got the straight start on Wednesday, and the Cards greeted the young man rather rudely, to be honest. They pounced all over pitch after pitch early, making lots of solid contact off the Dodgers’ righty. Before the inning was over, the Cards had three runs on the board, thanks especially to a two-run shot from Yadier Molina, who no doubt took great pleasure in passing his buddy Albert Pujols on his way around first base.

Both pitchers settle in

After rocky first innings for both starters, Wainwright and White seemed to calm down considerably after that. Especially Wainwright. The Cards righty went deep into the ball game, pitching all the way into the ninth inning. The only other Dodger run that scored after the first was a Mux Muncy solo shot in the sixth. Muncy took a Wainwright pitch deep to right for his 31st home run of the season.

On the other hand, Mitch White gave up an additional run in the fourth before leaving the game after five innings of work. It was an okay start, but he was sunk by that three-run first, his second start in a row that he’s been roughed up in the opening frame of the game. His 7.1 innings against the Pirates seems like a distant memory now. His line for this night: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 6 K.

Too much Wainwright

The Dodgers offense practically disappeared tonight against the crafty veteran Wainwright after that shaky first inning. At one point in the game, Wainwright retire fifteen straight Dodgers and it looked like he was headed for a complete game victory, especially after a Tyler O’Neill home run in the bottom of the eighth added an extra run of insurance for the Redbirds.

Ninth inning rally falls short

The Dodgers got up off the pavement in the ninth inning, but in the end it was too little, too late. They got two runs in the inning and chased Wainwright from the game. The inning began with three singles from Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, and Corey Seager to score one run, and then the Dodgers got another on a Will Smith sacrifice fly before reliever Giovanny Gallegos finally shut the door on the Dodgers by striking out Chris Taylor with the tying run stranded at first. Game over. The Dodgers have still won only one game this year when trailing in the ninth inning. Not great.

Brunch with the Dodgers on Thursday

Now trailing the Giants by two full games, the Dodgers get an opportunity to pick up a half-game on their rivals with a getaway game against the Cards on Thursday. It will be a 10:00 am start local time, so hopefully the Dodgers can pick themselves up and get right back at it. They can’t afford to split this series, not after the Giants swept Colorado this week. Tony Gonsolin will be back on the bump after a six-week absence tomorrow, and then it will be Urias, Buehler, and Scherzer against the Padres on the weekend. Keep hope alive!