(Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers picked a great time for their best
offensive showing in over two weeks.
Another strong performance on Saturday in the third contest of a four-game
series against St. Louis could allow the Dodgers to pull into a tie with the
Cardinals for the NL's second wild card position.
Los Angeles had been held to three runs or fewer in eight straight games -- a
span in which it went just 1-7 -- before breaking out offensively in Friday's
8-5 victory. The Dodgers took full advantage of their nine hits and three
walks, getting home runs from Luis Cruz and Andre Ethier. The former's three-
run shot in the sixth inning was the go-ahead hit.
It was Los Angeles' highest run total since a 10-0 win at the Colorado Rockies
on Aug. 27.
"We're going to enjoy this one and move on. (Ethier) and (Cruz's) homers were
huge," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "This was a two-game swing. It was
a big win."
Cruz finished with four RBI and Adrian Gonzalez drove in two runs as the
Dodgers snapped a four-game slide and moved to within one game of the
Cardinals in the wild card race.
Yadier Molina, Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday each hit a home run in defeat,
St. Louis' first in its last five games with Los Angeles.
The Cardinals have lost seven of their past nine overall and hope that Jamie
Garcia can solve his road issues in tonight's start.
The left-hander is 2-5 with a 6.19 earned run average in nine starts as the
guest this season and is coming off a loss at the San Diego Padres on Monday.
Garcia allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks while lasting just
three innings.
"I didn't get the job done. I left the ball up and didn't execute," said
Garcia, who is 4-7 with a 4.41 ERA in 16 starts this season.
The 26-year-old has lost five of his last six decisions, going 1-3 in five
starts since returning from injury. Garcia is 2-1 with a 6.91 ERA in four
lifetime meetings with the Dodgers, including three starts.
Los Angeles turns to Joe Blanton, who was pressed into a start on short notice
last Sunday when Clayton Kershaw was a late scratch due to injury.
Blanton was unable to respond and took the loss to the San Francisco Giants,
yielding four runs on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. That dropped
the right-hander to 1-4 with a 6.25 ERA in seven starts since joining the
Dodgers in a trade with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Blanton, 31, is 3-2 with a 4.28 ERA in his career versus the Cardinals and
faced them in St. Louis on May 24 while with the Phillies. He was hammered for
seven runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 frames in that one, getting a no-decision.
The Sports Network