Dodgers haunted by same issues in 3-1 loss to Cardinals in Game 3

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St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong hits a two-run home run off Dodgers reliever Scott Elbert (not pictured) during the seventh inning of a 3-1 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League division series Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers reliever Scott Elbert sits in the dugout after giving up a two-run home run to St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong during the seventh inning of a 3-1 loss in Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu delivers a pitch during the first inning of Game 3 of the National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

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Angels pitcher John Lackey, right, celebrates next to catcher Yadier Molina after throwing out Carl Crawford at first base during the third inning of Game 3 of the National League division series on Monday. (Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

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Angels starter John Lackey throws out Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford at first base during the third inning of Game 3 of the National League division series on Monday. (Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)

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Dodgers reliever Hyun-Jin Ryu reacts after giving up a walk to St. Louis Cardinals batter Matt Holliday during Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers reliever Scott Elbert delivers a pitch during the seventh inning of a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League division series Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis stretches before the start of Game 3 of the National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, left, looks on before the start of Game 3 of the National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell throws before the start of Game 3 of the National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw watches from the dugout during the team’s 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League division series on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers right fielder Matt Kemp chases down a double hit by St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers center fielder Yasiel Puig hits a triple in the sixth inning of Game 3 of the National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday. (Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images)

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Dodgers center fielder Yasiel Puig rounds second base after hitting a triple in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning of a 3-1 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League division series on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, left, celebrates his two-run home run with teammate Yadier Molina, center, as Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis looks away during the seventh inning of Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers center fielder Yasiel Puig, left, walks back to the dugout after striking out during the first inning of Game 3 of the National League division series against the St. Louis Cardinals. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Dodgers right fielder Matt Kemp argues with home plate umpire Dale Scott after striking out during the ninth inning Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Trevor Rosenthal celebrates after the final out of the Cardinals’ 3-1 win over the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLDS on Monday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

By Steve Dilbeck

Oct. 6, 2014 9:27 PM PT

Old stories, just old painful stories for the Dodgers. Matt Carpenter homers, bullpen implodes, Dodgers lose.

One more like that, and they can call it a season. The Dodgers just can’t call rewrite, can’t figure out a new script to their postseason.

Their failings were all on display again Monday night in St. Louis, the Dodgers falling 3-1 to the Cardinals in Game 3 of their division series at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals now lead the best-of-five series, 2-1, and will attempt to close it out Tuesday.

The Dodgers got everything they could realistically ask out of left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who had thrown one inning in the last month.

Ryu went six strong innings, holding the Cardinals to one run on the seemingly required home run to Carpenter. Ryu was actually rather remarkable, and it still wasn’t enough.

In his six innings, he gave up five hits and a walk, striking out four.

Trouble is, six is still two innings shy of the eight it takes to get the ball to closer Kenley Jansen. And the instant the Dodgers went to their bullpen, the game was lost.

Carpenter hit his third home run in as many games in the third inning, but the Dodgers tied it off John Lackey in the sixth after Yasiel Puig interrupted his strikeout barrage with a lead-off triple. He scored on a double from Hanley Ramirez.

But it took Ryu 94 pitches to get through the sixth, so to start the seventh, Manager Don Mattingly called on Scott Elbert. And that was pretty much that.

Not that it was Elbert’s fault. The fact that Mattingly would go to him in such a crucial situation tells you everything about the Dodgers’ bullpen. Elbert was coming off his third elbow surgery this season. He had thrown only 4 1/3 innings for the Dodgers all season.

Yadier Molina greeted his first pitch with a double. He was bunted to third before Kolten Wong, a left-handed hitter, drilled a go-ahead two-run homer into the Cardinals bullpen.

The Cardinals, who ranked 29th in home runs during the regular season, now lead all teams in the postseason with seven.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, could never really get the offense going against Lackey. They had one hit in 11 attempts with runners in scoring position.

Lackey, the former Angel, went seven excellent innings. He allowed one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out eight.

Going seven innings allowed the Cardinals to go to their desired late-inning routine. Pat Neshek threw a scoreless eighth and closer Trevor Rosenthal, a rocky but still scoreless ninth.

That’s a consistent approach that Mattingly has never been able to embrace all season. When the Cardinals loaded the bases in the eighth, J.P. Howell was able to turn a terrific double play, but there would be no offensive surge in the ninth.

Dodgers haunted by same issues in 3-1 loss to Cardinals in Game 3

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