Dem Bums – A Dodgers Blog

The Dodgers came back from a 4-0 deficit to score all four runs in the ninth to send it to extras, but a two-run walkoff homerun gave the Cardinals the win.

Chris Carpenter held the Dodgers to three hits through five innings, and they only totaled four before the ninth inning. Andruw Jones led off the ninth with a pinch-hit solo homerun, his first since May 15th, to begin the come-from-behind rally. Andre Ethier and Russell Martin then each drove one-out singles and Manny walked to juice the bases. James Loney and Jeff Kent then each hit RBI-singles before Casey Blake got a sacfly to tie the game. The Dodgers had the bases loaded again in the 10th, but Loney lined out to end it after Russell Martin made the second out with runners on the corners, striking out on a 2-2 pitch that hit the dirt.

Chad Billingsley gave up just a run in his five innings while totaling six K’s, but earned his first no decision in over two months. Billingsley could’ve gone deeper after throwing just 74 pitches, but a rain delay prompted Torre to send Brian Falkenborg out for the sixth instead. He gave up a run and Joe Beimel gave up another before the inning was over. Chan Ho Park then gave up a solo homerun to Pujols in the seventh to give the Cards a four-run lead. Troncoso kept the Cards off the bases in the eighth and Cory Wade kept them scoreless through the ninth and tenth innings. Jason Johnson then came on as the sixth relief pitcher, and gave up a one-out, two-run walkoff homerun to Ryan Ludwick. There was talk of why Broxton wasn’t used at all, but Torre said he was available but would only put him in if they had a lead.

The Dodgers have now lost three of their last five and have dropped to two games behind Arizona. Derek Lowe takes the mound tonight to go for his ninth win. Lowe took a loss in his last outing, though he gave up just one run and again lacked run support. He will face Joel Pineiro, who is 3-5 with a 5.04 ERA.