Dodgers fall to Cardinals on Rafael Furcal’s single

ST. LOUIS — Hanley Ramirez wasn’t the only new Dodger to immediately see action Wednesday. So did Randy Choate.

Choate, a left-handed reliever who came with Ramirez to the Dodgers in a trade with the Miami Marlins, was called in by Manager Don Mattingly with one out in the 10th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Choate retired the next two batters, and the first batter in the 11th inning, before being replaced by Jamey Wright (4-3), who was the losing pitcher when the Cardinals won, 3-2, in the 12th inning on a single by Rafael Furcal.

“It’s been kind of a long day,” said Choate, who flew to St. Louis from Florida after Marlins management informed him of the trade Wednesday morning.

Regardless, Choate said “I’m just excited to be here. You’re in the middle of a pennant race and it’s more exciting to go on the field every day.”

Dodgers starter Aaron Harang gave up only two hits but also two runs in 71/3 innings, and left with the score tied, 2-2. Harang also struck out eight and walked four.

Mattingly was ejected by plate umpire Jeff Kellogg in the 10th inning after arguing balls and strikes.

The “strike zone was horrible, I mean going down to the last hitter,” Mattingly said.

Losing Eovaldi

The Dodgers struggled to score runs for starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who was 1-6 with a 4.15 earned-run average.

But the Dodgers had no trouble heaping praise on the 22-year-old right-hander after he was traded to the Marlins as part of the Ramirez trade.

“I hate to give up Nathan Eovaldi, somebody who’s got a great future,” General Manager Ned Colletti said. “You have to give up talent to acquire talent.”

Veteran pitcher Ted Lilly said, “I really liked Nathan Eovaldi. I think they got a pretty special pitcher and a really good, hard-working, talented young man.”

Right fielder Andre Ethier, noting that he and Eovaldi had “become really close” friends the last two months, said he saw Eovaldi in the lobby of the team hotel Wednesday “and it was kind of tough seeing him go.”

“I wish him the best,” Ethier said, “but also I think we got someone we need right away.”

Eovaldi was scheduled to start Friday night against the Giants in San Francisco, and Mattingly said he still had not decided who will start in his place.

Mattingly did say, however, that he does not want to start Wright, who normally pitches in relief.

“I don’t like that option just because of what it does to our bullpen” in terms of leaving it one reliever short, Mattingly said.

Roster changes

The trade with Miami prompted the Dodgers to option reliever Shawn Tolleson, who had appeared in 12 games, to triple-A Albuquerque to make room on the active roster.

The Dodgers said they also put Ted Coffey, who had season-ending elbow surgery, on the 60-day disabled list.

james.peltz@latimes.com