The Dodgers finally got a jolt in the ninth inning.
After two straight losses to the Cardinals had them staring at a sweep in the face, Los Angeles rallied for a 3-2 walk-off win in the series finale and at least spared itself that particular ending. Teoscar Hernández delivered the knockout blow, lining a two-run shot into the left-center field gap to end it.
It was a much-needed finish for a club that has spent the start of September trying to reset after a rough two months, only to stumble even harder with back-to-back losses to St. Louis.
Even with the win, the Dodgers dropped the season series to the Cardinals for the second year in a row, finishing 2-4. They also played without Shohei Ohtani in the final game because of his continued injury issues.
For most of the night, the Dodgers looked trapped in the same bad script. One game after going 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position, they kept missing the big hit again, opening the door for the Cardinals to hang around.
Los Angeles went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position before the ninth and stretched its drought to 24 straight at-bats without a hit with a runner on second or third. The Dodgers stranded 10 runners overall after leaving 13 on base the night before.
They did at least avoid grounding into a double play, which counts for something at this point. Their first run came on a passed ball, and several other chances slipped away.
Then the game flipped in a hurry.
Tommy Edman got the rally started with a one-out single, and Mookie Betts followed with a walk to put the winning run aboard. Hernández then stepped in with the kind of at-bat the Dodgers had been waiting for all night. He worked the count full, spoiled a few pitches, and finally hammered the line drive that brought both runs home and sent the Dodgers home with a win.
Tarik Skubal, meanwhile, was good enough to keep St. Louis in it, but not sharp enough to cruise.
He gave up two runs over 5.2 innings and was tagged for 10 hits, matching the most hits he has allowed in a start this year. He struck out six, walked one, and spent most of the night under pressure.
His struggles started early. Skubal gave up two singles before recording an out in the first, then added another hit after a strikeout as the Cardinals grabbed a 1-0 lead. He escaped further damage when a line drive turned into a double play, but the traffic never really stopped.
St. Louis scored again in the third after a leadoff single and a pair of later singles brought in another run.
Skubal kept the Dodgers from cashing in several other chances, but the innings kept piling up with runners on base. His outing ended in the sixth after a single and a walk, and Edgardo Henriquez came in to strike out a batter and keep the Cardinals from adding on.
In Other News...
Disturbing Scene Unfolded Near Dodger Stadium During Wednesdays Game
Police were called to the area near Dodger Stadium during Wednesdays game and found a man deceased outside the ballpark, a grim scene unfolding in the shadow of one of baseballs most familiar venues. Authorities have not identified the man, and at this stage they do not suspect foul play, leaving the focus on the work still ahead for investigators and the medical examiners office.
The case remains under investigation as officials try to determine what happened and notify next of kin. For a Dodgers crowd used to tracking every pitch and playoff race detail, the news was a stark reminder that the action around a game can sometimes extend far beyond the field. [Read more 🡒]
Disturbing Scene Unfolded Outside Dodger Stadium During Cardinals Game
Los Angeles police were called to the area near Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night while the Cardinals were in town, and officers later found a man dead outside the ballpark. The man has not been identified, but authorities said they do not suspect foul play.
The investigation remains open as officials work to notify the mans next of kin, leaving unanswered questions about how the scene unfolded near one of baseballs busiest settings. For a Dodgers crowd already focused on the game, the discovery added a somber note to an otherwise ordinary night around the stadium. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Prospects Just Put More Pressure On A Crowded Depth Chart
The Dodgers farm system kept churning Wednesday, and the offensive noise came from a pair of Double-A bats who gave Tulsa another reminder that the organizations infield and outfield depth is anything but settled. Jake Gelof and Kole Myers each launched two home runs in the Drillers win, while the club also shuffled its roster with pitcher Aidan Foeller and second baseman Sean McLain coming off injury lists and Adrian Marrero moving down to Class-A Ontario.
At Triple-A Oklahoma City, Alek Thomas supplied the deciding punch with a go-ahead two-run homer, and starter Jackson Ferris turned in a strong outing on the mound. The days movement also included Ben Rortvedt heading to Oklahoma City, another small but notable sign of how many players are pushing for position as the Dodgers sort through an increasingly crowded depth chart. [Read more 🡒]