Peralta comes through as Cards rally in LA
LOS ANGELES -- The Cardinals put up a three-run eighth inning against the Dodgers' bullpen to come from behind to win, 4-2, on Sunday at Dodger Stadium and earn a win in the four-game series.
Adam Liberatore walked Matt Carpenter to start the inning before being replaced by Juan Nicasio, who allowed two doubles and a single while recording just one out in the inning to give the Cardinals the lead. Jhonny Peralta's RBI single put St. Louis ahead to stay.
"Fun series. Fun baseball environment," St. Louis right fielder Jason Heyward said after the Cardinals took their third win of the series. "We did a good job of coming in, staying patient and playing every game through to the end. That's kind of how the series went -- just wait on which pitchers would crack first."
The Dodgers couldn't capitalize on a strong outing from starter Zack Greinke. He tossed 6 2/3 innings, surrendering one run with eight strikeouts. The only blip on his night was a solo home run from Peralta in the sixth inning.
"I didn't really think he would do that with it," Greinke said of Peralta's homer. "In the past, he's done it. I just haven't seen him do it in a while. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't not what I was trying to do. It was just a really good swing."
Cardinals starter Lance Lynn was effective -- allowing just two runs -- despite pitching with right forearm tightness throughout much of his 98-pitch outing.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Peralta produces: Peralta snapped a string of 225 homerless at-bats by the Cardinals when he took Greinke deep with one out in the sixth. Two innings later, he gave the Cardinals their first lead with an RBI single to left. That hit was preceded by Yasiel Puig's misplay on Matt Holliday's double into the right-field corner, which had allowed the tying run to score and Holliday to advance an extra 90 feet.
"This is a guy who is going to sneak up on you, like he did tonight, and next thing you know he has three hits and is a real difference-maker," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Peralta. "Coming from the shortstop position, it's pretty impressive." More >
Video: STL@LAD: Peralta goes yard with a solo shot to left
The cleanup man: Los Angeles third baseman Justin Turner was in the No. 4 spot in the lineup for just the fourth time this season, and he lived up to assignment on Sunday. He drove in two runs in his first two at-bats, plating Puig with a double in the first inning, then bringing home Greinke on a single in the third.
"He was the right guy tonight," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "He's a good hitter. You put those guys in position to drive in runs."
Video: STL@LAD: Turner opens the scoring with an RBI double
On the money: Heyward kept a one-run deficit from swelling by throwing out Andre Ethier at home to close the sixth. Heyward charged in on Jimmy Rollins' single and lasered a throw home to catcher Tony Cruz, who made the lunging tag on Ethier. The assist was Heyward's fourth of the season.
"As soon as the ball was hit and I saw it was hit to Jason, I know he has a strong arm and we had a chance," Cruz said. "I was trying to do whatever I could, with the game being close, to [make the play]." More >
Video: STL@LAD: Heyward throws out Ethier trying to score
Kendrick sighting: In his first action since injuring his knee June 3, Howie Kendrick entered the game in the seventh inning as part of a double-switch. Kendrick lost control of his bat on the second pitch of his only at-bat, having it boomerang into the stands. He eventually struck out. More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Dodgers hadn't lost a series at home since August 2014, going 12-0-1 in that span, which was the longest active streak in the Majors. The streak is over as the Cardinals took three of four at Dodger Stadium.
QUOTABLE
"It developed as I went. There were a lot of pitches, especially in the first three innings. [It] was nothing serious, but we didn't want to pitch through it." -- Lynn, on pitching through forearm tightness. More >
"Whatever you do, whatever choice I make, if they're not getting the outs, it's, 'Why not the other guy?'" -- Mattingly on his decision to go to the bullpen Sunday.
WHAT'S NEXT
Cardinals: St. Louis continues its seven-game road trip with a stop in Colorado, where the Cardinals will open a three-game series at 7:40 pm CT on Monday. John Lackey (4-3, 2.93 ERA) will be seeking his first road win since August 2014. He is 0-2 with a 4.66 ERA away from home this year.
Dodgers: The Dodgers will stay at home for a three-game series with the D-backs starting Monday. Los Angeles swept Arizona when the teams last squared off from May 1-3. Dodgers starting pitcher Mike Bolsinger will be facing his former team for the first time in the 7:10 p.m. PT start.
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