Dodgers win big game vs. St. Louis who they are battling for final wild card spot with about 3 weeks left (9/12)
Heading into September 14th (Friday Fireworks night), the Dodgers found themselves 2 games in back of the Cardinals for the second wild card spot making tonight’s game the biggest yet of the season. Another Dodger loss could amount into an insurmountable Cardinals lead with only 17 games left in the regular season, the Dodgers having a more difficult schedule for the remainder of the season on the road at Washington, Cincinnati and San Diego before coming home to Colorado and San Francisco after the final 2 games of this huge series. Joe Blanton taking the hill on Saturday night vs. Jaime Garcia and then Adam Wainwright vs. Stephen Fife most likely to start on Sunday as there was some not great news that Clayton Kershaw would probably miss Sunday’s start from his recent hip injury. He will see a doctor in New York in a few days to evaluate him. Losing their ace pitcher would be a big blow to the team, which really needs to pick it up entering the final few weeks of the season.
The Dodgers, averaging only 1.6 runs over their previous eight games, wasted no time falling behind by two runs as Chris Capuano gave up two homers in the top of the 2nd, one to Yadier Molina and the other to Matt Carpenter. Luis Cruz was able to bring in Adrian Gonzalez from third base on a ground out to second to help keep the game in hand, but the Cardinals’ Matt Holliday hit a line drive homer to right field in the third inning scoring Beltran and running their lead up to 4 – 1.
News from the Cardinals as shortstop Rafael Furcal is on the DL with an inflamed right elboy and Lance Berkman was activated from the DL but may be limited to pinch-hitting. Ex-Cy Young pitcher Chris Carpenter (pictured below) may be back in the next week to help the team down the stretch. New manager Mike Matheny believes his team can do it as last year they made the playoffs on the final day of the season and then won the World Series.
The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the third with their own two run shot from Andre Ethier on a 3 – 0 count that scored Victorino. The Dodgers had once again found a way to stay in it. It wasn’t until the bottom of the 6th inning before any more runs were scored as Luis Cruz electrified the fans with a 3 run blast deep into left field on the first pitch thrown by reliever Edward Mujica knocking in Ethier and Ramirez. His home run swing is shown below. Cruz is really making a name for himself in a Dodger uniform and is becoming a fan favorite with his consistent play and great attitude.
Adrian Gonzalez doubled in Herrera and Victorino for his second hit of the game in the bottom of the 7th giving the Dodgers a big enough cushion to pull out an 8 – 5 win and keep the Dodgers one game out of the wild card race. Brandon League closed the game for the Dodgers and has earned the confidence of manager Don Mattingly with recent performances.
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