Dodgers 6, Cardinals 5: Scott Van Slyke went deep for the first time in his career when he belted a pinch-hit three-run homer in the seventh inning as host Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep of St. Louis.
Elian Herrera collected three hits, Andre Ethier recorded his National League-leading 37th RBI and James Loney also had a run-scoring single as the Dodgers improved to 19-4 at home.
With St. Louis nursing a 5-3 lead, Van Slyke received the green light on a 3-0 count with two runners aboard. The son of All-Star Andy Van Slyke deposited an offspeed offering from Marc Rzepczynski (0-2) into the seats in left field to whip the crowd into a frenzy.
Javy Guerra (2-3) tossed one scoreless inning in relief of starter Chad Billingsley, who labored through six frames. Josh Lindblom retired the side in order in the eighth inning and Kenley Jansen worked the ninth for his fifth save.
Skip Schumaker ripped a two-run triple and Rafael Furcal had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Matt Adams had two hits and scored a run in his major-league debut for the NL Central-leading Cardinals, who have gone 13-16 after a sizzling 9-3 start to the season.
St. Louis fell to 7-2 in games started by Kyle Lohse, who allowed three runs and 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Cardinals placed veteran first baseman Lance Berkman on the 15-day disabled list with an injured right knee. The National League's comeback player of the year in 2011, Berkman will have an MRI exam on Monday. Adams was recalled from Triple-A to fill the roster spot. ... Los Angeles catcher A.J. Ellis, who went 0-for-4, failed to reach base for the first time in 29 straight contests and second time in 33 games. ... The Dodgers will travel to the desert to visit NL West rival Arizona on Monday while the Cardinals host a series against San Diego.
St. Louis | LA Dodgers | |
Kyle Lohse | Player | Chad Billingsley |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
5.2 | IP | 6.0 |
4 | Strikeouts | 7 |
11 | Hits | 8 |
4.76 | ERA | 4.50 |
St. Louis | LA Dodgers | |
Daniel Descalso | Player | Bobby Abreu |
2 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 3 |
.667 | Avg | .750 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
St. Louis | 8 | 0 | 10 | .250 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
LA Dodgers | 14 | 1 | 19 | .400 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |