Dodgers rally late to beat Cardinals, 4-3

KEY MOMENT: With the score tied, 3-3, A.J. Ellis led off the ninth inning with a double to right-center field and was replaced on the basepaths by Miguel Rojas. Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal struck Hanley Ramirez on the left hand with a 99-mph fastball. Ramirez was forced to leave the game, but the Dodgers had men on first and second with two outs, setting up Adrian Gonzalez’s tie-breaking single.

ON THE MOUND: Clayton Kershaw had trouble with his command, but nonetheless limited the Cardinals to three runs and six hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one. J.P. Howell, who forced Matt Adams to ground out for the final out of the eighth inning with men on the corners, was credited with the victory. Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 28th save.

AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers forced the Cardinals’ wild starter, Carlos Martinez, to exit the game after only four innings. They finished the game with 11 hits including three by Juan Uribe and two each from Dee Gordon, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.

OUTFIELD SHUFFLE: Yasiel Puig didn’t play a day after from taking a pitch on his left hand, which remained swollen. With Puig unavailable, the Dodgers started Andre Ethier in right field, Scott Van Slyke in center field and Matt Kemp in left field. Mattingly said he didn’t consider starting Kemp in right field, a position he last played regularly in 2008. “I’m a little bit hesitant to play Matt in right because he hasn’t played there this year,” Mattingly said. Preliminary X-rays on Puig’s hand were negative. Puig will undergo another X-ray exam Monday in Pittsburgh, where the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Pirates.

UP NEXT: Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-5, 3.44 earned-run average) will face the Pittsburgh Pirates and Edinson Volquez (8-6, 3.65) at PNC Park on Monday at 4 p.m. PDT. On the air: TV: SportsNetLA. Radio: 570, 1020 (Spanish).