Aaron Miles shines as Los Angeles Dodgers defeat St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 – MLB Update
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Aaron Miles played a key role in the Club’s 2-1 series-opener triumph over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday, August 22.
The struggling Dodgers were looking for something extra ordinary performance from their batters until the top of the ninth inning. Third baseman Aaron Miles became a reliever for his manager Don Mattingly, as he touched a triple in the top of the ninth inning
allowing Justin Sellers to score the game tier run. While the game was tied and Miles was on third base, Rod Barajas played a chip shot to shortstop, scoring Miles for the game leading run.
Before this hit, Miles was 0-for-3 against the Cardinals’ starter Chris Carpenter and had not drove the ball out of the infield.
"He was lights out for most of the game," Miles said. "He's definitely not a comfortable at-bat."
With 2-1 lead behind his belt, Javy Guerra landed the mound and tossed eleven strikes of 15 pitches, allowing only one hit in the crucial situation to get his eleventh and the Club’s 58th success of the 2011 regular season. Matt Guerrier also threw scoreless
eighth inning, in which the Cardinals’ left-fielder Matt Holiday left the field after a moth lad struck in his ear. Guerrier earned his fourth win with 3.61 ERA.
Chris Carpenter worked eight innings and held the Dodgers under great pressure with his changeups and sliders. He struck-out seven batters and allowed only one walk but a one run he allowed restricted him from his ninth win in the 2011 season.
Carpenter was in full form when manager Tony La Russa suddenly asked him to leave the mound. However, it was the time when Mattingly took a right decision and used his full batting strength against Fernando Salas.
"We didn't do much with him, that's for sure," Mattingly said. "I'm sure Tony has his reasons. He knows his ballclub a lot better than I know his ballclub."
Salas tossed only six pitches and went for one hit to get his fifth loss wit 2.41 ERA this season.
Dodgers’ rookie Nate Eovaldi gave one run and five hits over his five innings. He tossed 51 strikes of his 83 pitches.
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