• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Kemp's walkoff HR lifts Dodgers over Cardinals

Apr 18, 2011 - 1:28 AM Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - Matt Kemp went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, as the Los Angeles Dodgers snuck past the St. Louis Cardinals, 2-1, to avoid a four-game sweep.

After the Cardinals scored the first run of the game in the top of the ninth, Trever Miller took over on the mound in the home half. Andre Ethier led off with a double to right-center field to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Ryan Franklin (0-2) was called in from the bullpen to face Kemp, who cleared the wall in center to snap Los Angeles' five-game skid.

"I threw a sinker. It was right on the corner and down," Franklin said.

LA starter Chad Billingsley tossed eight scoreless frames. The right-hander gave up just two hits, walked two and struck out 11. Jonathan Broxton (1-0) got the win despite giving up the run in the ninth.

"I'm glad we got a win. We've been struggling the last five games," Kemp said.

David Freese drove in the lone run for St. Louis, which had a four-game winning streak snapped. Matt Holliday went 3-for-3.

The Cardinals had scored six or more runs in seven straight games.

Chris Carpenter pitched seven scoreless innings for the Cardinals. He allowed five hits and struck out six.

St. Louis had a chance to get on the board in the second. Holliday doubled to right to begin the frame. Billingsley, though, struck out the next three batters to keep it scoreless.

Los Angeles failed to score after putting men on the corners in the third. Tony Gwynn Jr. reached first on Ryan Theriot's fielding error and Jamey Carroll followed with an infield single. Ethier grounded out to end the inning.

The Dodgers stranded a runner on second in the fifth, while the Cardinals left a man on third in the eighth before breaking the scoreless tie in the ninth.

Broxton recorded two quick outs before Holliday doubled to center. Lance Berkman was then intentionally walked before Freese stepped to the plate and hit a bloop single to right to knock in Holliday. Yadier Molina seemed to have a bloop base hit of his own, but second baseman Aaron Miles made a nice sliding catch.

Game Notes

St. Louis was 4-3 against the Dodgers last season, with both teams sweeping sets in their home ballparks...St. Louis outscored the Dodgers, 30-11, in the series...The Cardinals were in search of their first four-game sweep at Dodger Stadium since July 1-4, 1968...St. Louis finished 6-4 on a 10-game road trip.