Chad Billingsley and Matt Kemp help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1
The National League’s Los Angeles Dodgers finally managed to snap their five-game losing streak as they trounced league rivals the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 in the finale of their four-game series on Sunday night.
The Cardinals’ dream to win a four-game series sweep in Los Angeles since 1968 was shattered.
Despite the warm weather, the Dodgers’ starter cooled down the outing with his eight-shutout innings. Chad Billingsley completely outclassed the batters and allowed just two scoreless hits while managing eleven strike-outs.
Just after he finished his spell with a 4.91 ERA, the slugger Matt Kemp launched a 422-feet long two-run home run to centre-field off the Cardinals’ closer Ryan Franklin for the second time in the series.
The Dodgers were one run behind when Kemp homered in the bottom of the ninth inning to Franklin, who has made four saves in his last five games. Kemp’s last homer to Franklin, he touched in the series opener, did not make an impact in the 9-5 losing competition.
However, this time his homer picked up a victory for the Dodgers.
"He left one a little bit over the middle of the plate and I just kept my hands still," Kemp said. "He's got a really good sinker and a really good curveball and a cutter, so he moves the ball a lot. You've got to try to get a pitch in the middle and use
your hands, and that's what I did."
Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly acknowledged the significance of Kemp’s homer. The club needed a start and they availed it, according to Mattingly.
The Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter strived hard to achieve another outing for his team as he pitched seven scoreless innings. Carpenter allowed five hits without a walk, made six strike-outs and now has acquired a 1.57 ERA against the Dodgers.
"I commanded the ball well. My cutter was good and I had command of my fastball on both sides of the plate and kept the ball down," he said. "I was trying to be aggressive in the strike zone and I was ahead in the count for the most part. That's a pretty
good line-up and every guy can hurt you in many different ways."
Andre Ethier hit a leading run with a double to deep right-field off Trever Miller in the top of the ninth inning, providing the Dodgers with a 1-0 lead.
The performance of Billingsley and Kemp for the Dodgers was exemplary, as both players showed the depth of the Dodgers bull-pen. The Dodgers are getting stronger as the Major League Baseball season progresses. They look to be a force to reckon with in the
National League West Division.
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