Cardinals 2, Dodgers 1
LOS ANGELES -- Third baseman Matt Carpenter drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers before a crowd of 44,649 at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.
Second baseman Kolten Wong's infield single scored pinch-runner Pete Kozma to tie the score at 1 with one out in the eighth inning before Carpenter followed with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing home right fielder Jason Heyward with what proved to be the winning run.
The Cardinals (37-18), who own the best mark in the major leagues, captured their fourth consecutive win and handed the Dodgers (31-24) their fourth straight loss. Los Angeles has dropped four of five to St. Louis this season.
Carlos Martinez defeated the Dodgers for the second time in the past week. Martinez (6-2) recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts and limited Los Angeles to a run on three hits with four walks in seven innings. Last Sunday, Martinez blanked the Dodgers for seven innings and struck out eight on a one-hitter in a 3-1 win by the Cardinals in St. Louis.
Closer Trevor Rosenthal retired the side in order, fanning two, in the ninth for his 18th save.
Dodgers starter Brett Anderson (2-4) had another solid outing against the Cardinals, but suffered defeat again. Anderson allowed two runs on four hits in 7 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and three walks. Anderson was the losing pitcher in the matchup Sunday, when he also gave up two runs.
Martinez's scoreless streak reached 21 1/3 innings until he gave up a run in the second inning. Martinez walked center fielder Joc Pederson on five pitches with the bases loaded, scoring third baseman Alberto Callaspo.
However, Martinez got out of the jam without further damage by inducing shortstop Jimmy Rollins to line into an inning-ending double to keep the deficit to a run.
It was the first run Martinez allowed since May 15, when he gave up two to the Detroit Tigers.
NOTES: Dodgers 2B Howie Kendrick wasn't in the starting lineup for the second game in a row. Kendrick, who didn't play Thursday, is nursing a sore knee. ... OF Scott Schebler was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. To make room, LHP Daniel Coulombe was sent to Oklahoma City. ... Cardinals OF Tommy Pham was activated from the 60-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Memphis. Pham suffered a strained left quadriceps muscle in March. 1B Matt Adams, who had surgery last Friday to repair his torn right quadriceps, replaced Pham on the 60-day DL. ... Cardinals LHP Jaime Garcia (1-2, 2.70 ERA) will face Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-3, 3.73 ERA) on Saturday.