Red Birds Snap Dodgers Road Streak but Clayton Kershaw Still Reigns Supreme

Dodgers 1 9 0

Cardinals 5 8 1

WP- Kelly (3-3)

LP- Kershaw (10-7)

HR- Beltran (20), Adams (9)

Thanks to the ongoing feud between Time Warner Cable and CBS, I was unable to watch the Dodgers game on Tuesday evening. Instead of watching Clayton Kershaw pitch a solid 6 innings while allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking 2 on 90 pitches, I instead had to listen to the Dodgers game the old-fashioned way. Rick Monday and Kevin Kennedy aren’t the worst of the bunch, but my annoyance at the situation caused me to be in a foul mood from the start. While two greedy corporations are fighting over the millions in profits that they net after charging their customers exorbitant fees, I am without my Dodger baseball. Perhaps I am spoiled nowadays with my big screen TV and my reliable Dodger baseball telecasts. I remember a time when half the Dodger games weren’t televised at all. Those were dark times indeed.

Aug 6, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

So bear with me during this continuing cable provider blackout. It’s extremely frustrating to be denied something that should never be withheld from Dodger fans. Every Dodger fan, whether you are living in market or not, should have access to your Dodgers for every game of the season and postseason. In this day and age, if you are paying good money for cable service your Dodger baseball feed should be constant and uninterrupted. Next season we will hopefully not have these issues when the new Time Warner contract begins, but this season could be something special. The Dodgers have been playing on a historic level, and I do not want to miss one inning.

Perhaps it was better that I didn’t have to witness the bunting and Brandon League on the big screen tonight. The Dodgers epic road win streak came to an end tonight, but it sure was glorious while it lasted. All good things must come to an end, but there was a child-like hope within me that wanted the streak to continue forever or maybe just a few more games to break the Major League record of 17 consecutive road wins. Even Clayton Kershaw could not prevent the loss tonight, and our bad luck ace was once again tagged with the loss, his seventh of the season, even though he pitched admirably. Kershaw’s ERA still is under 2.00 (1.91), and even though the Dodgers continue to slight him his deserved run support, Kershaw will certainly garner Cy Young Award votes.

Joe Kelly and Clayton Kershaw both pitched well through the first half of the game. The Cardinals scored two runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning on a Jon Jay double, a RBI single by Tony Cruz, a double by Pete Kozma, and a scoring groundout hit by Kelly.

The Dodgers notched one run in the top of the sixth thanks to a lead-off double by Carl Crawford followed by a RBI single by Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers would sour the rally after Yasiel Puig and Andre Ethier both singled to load the bases up with one out. A.J. Ellis disappointingly grounds into the inning ending double play. We still love you, A.J.

Brandon League is terrible. He allowed two homeruns in the bottom of the eighth inning. Photo: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers squander another scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh which would end up costing them the game. Juan Uribe doubled to lead-off the frame, but then Don Mattingly calls for Nick Punto to bunt Uribe over to third. Keep in mind that Uribe is already in scoring position. Now, you can argue that Uribe would have a hard time scoring on a single, but Don Mattingly could have used a pinch-runner (Dee Gordon is available off the bench). Of course the bunt fails miserably, and Uribe is out at third on the fielder’s choice. Skip Schumaker grounds into a force out. Carl Crawford draws a walk, but Mark Ellis pops out to end the inning and any hopes of scoring.

J.P. Howell comes in to relieve Kershaw in the seventh, and the southpaw retires the side in order. The Dodgers can’t do anything in the eighth as Puig and Ethier both strike out swinging against St. Louis reliever Trevor Rosenthal.

I’m sure glad I wasn’t watching the bottom of the eighth inning on television. Brandon League returns to form as he allows not one but two homeruns to the Cardinals. Carlos Beltran hits his 20th homerun of the year with one out, and Matt Adams hits a two-run shot after League had walked Matt Holliday. Mattingly has to hook League before the last out, and Carlos Marmol induces a groundout from Jon Jay to mercifully end the three-run frame. Brandon League is still terrible. He may have had a few good innings recently, but he cannot be allowed to pitch in any game that is within reach.

Other than a Nick Punto single in the ninth, the Dodgers go down without much of a fight. Kershaw gets the loss while Joe Kelly gets the win. Kelly allowed just one run on 6 hits while striking out one and walking 2 on 88 pitches. The Dodgers fall to 62-50 on the year, and they lose a game in the standings since Arizona won. The Dodgers lead the division by 5 games.

Aug 6, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Joe Kelly (58) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

The road win streak came to a dead end on Tuesday, but the streak was impressive nonetheless. It’s clear that the Dodgers need Hanley Ramirez back in the lineup, and without the slugger their offense is placid. Ramirez is reportedly feeling better, and we hope that he can return soon.

Game three will be televised on ESPN and Prime Ticket, so I will not be so bitterly angry tomorrow since I’ll be able to enjoy the game on TV. Ricky Nolasco will take on Rookie of the Year candidate Shelby Miller at 5:15 p.m.

Have you been affected by the Time Warner blackout? Let us know in the comments.