ST. LOUIS — The Dodgers’ offensive slump continued Friday in a 7-2 loss to the Cardinals.
They scored just one run in the first five innings, on Max Muncy’s second-inning RBI double. Then in the sixth, they squeezed just one run out of a bases-loaded situation, brought in by a sacrifice fly from Kyle Tucker.
They went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, scoring fewer runs in the game than the Cardinals scored in the first inning alone.
Dodgers right-hander Emmet Sheehan’s start went south in the span of one at-bat.
With two outs in the first inning and runners on first and second, Sheehan worked ahead to a 2-0 count against Cardinals left-handed hitter Nolan Gorman.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith then attempted a back-pick at second base, but his errant throw bounced to the opposite side of the base and past shortstop Miguel Rojas.
With runners at second and third, Sheehan did not declare that he was no longer going to be throwing from the stretch, as he had the first two pitches of the at-bat. So, he was called for a balk, bringing the first run of the game across the plate.
Gorman battled Sheehan to a full count. Then Sheehan left a high fastball over the plate, and Gorman sent it into the right-field stands for a two-run blast.
Sheehan gave up a single to Masyn Winn, the Cardinals’ fourth hit of the inning, and pitching coach Mark Pior came out for a mound visit, before the Dodgers (20-12) escaped the inning.
Sheehan bounced back with a 1-2-3 third inning. But he surrendered a solo homer to left-handed slugger Alec Burleson in the third.
By the time Sheehan exited with two outs in the fifth inning, before Gorman was due up again, he had given up a season-high eight hits.
The Cardinals (19-13) widened their lead in the seventh inning, putting together a three-run rally against reliever Edgardo Henriquez.
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