Recap: Victor González and Dodgers can’t hold back Cardinals in loss

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts reacts after taking a called third strike as St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras, left, celebrates at the conclusion of the Dodgers’ 6-5 loss Saturday.

(Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

ST. LOUIS — Mookie Betts didn’t have time to toss his bat, unstrap his shin guard or take even a half-step toward first base.

After laying off what should have been a pivotal ball four with two outs in the ninth inning of a one-run game Saturday night, the Dodgers star was instead rung up instantly — and, in a controversial moment that rankled everyone on the visiting side, incorrectly — by home plate umpire Paul Emmel for a game-ending third strike.

“He called it,” Betts said. “There’s nothing I can do.”

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⚾ Cardinals 6, Dodgers 5 — Ninth inning

Top of the ninth: Miguel Vargas doubled down the left-field line to lead off the inning. David Peralta then singled into right field off Ryan Helsley, prompting a Cardinals mound visit. Jason Heyward followed with an RBI double into the right-center gap, driving in Vargas and ending Helsley’s night.

Facing Giovanny Gallegos, pinch hitter James Outman flared out softly to second. Pinch hitter Will Smith flied out to center, giving Peralta time to score from third and make it a one-run game. Mookie Betts then took a called third strike on a 94-mph fastball on the outside edge of the zone to end the game.

Betts to reporters on the controversial third strike: “He called it. There’s nothing I can do.”

The Dodgers and Cardinals wrap up their four-game series Sunday at 11:15 a.m. PDT.

⚾ Cardinals 6, Dodgers 3 — End of the eighth

Top of the eighth: Mookie Betts grounded out before Cardinals reliever Ryan Helsley hit Freddie Freeman with a pitch. Helsley then struck out J.D. Martinez and Max Muncy.

Bottom of the eighth: Tommy Edman hooked a hit down the left-field line for a leadoff double off Dodgers reliever Victor González. Lars Nootbar struck out and the Dodgers then opted to intentionally walk Paul Goldschmidt. Nolan Gorman made them pay, hitting a three-run homer to right field to thrust the Cardinals back into the lead. It was Gorman’s 13th home run of the season and it ended González’s stint on the mound.

Nolan Arenado singled to left off Dodgers reliever Tyler Cyr before Willson Contreras grounded to first for the second out — with Arenado barely beating Freddie Freeman back to first to prevent a double play. Cyr struck out Brendan Donovan to send the game to the ninth.

⚾ Dodgers 3, Cardinals 3 — End of the seventh

Top of the seventh: The Dodgers are retired in order. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas is done for the day — he gave up six hits, three earned runs and struck out two over 100 pitches.

Bottom of the seventh: Justin Bruihl took over on the mound for the Dodgers and oversaw a 1-2-3 inning, striking out Paul DeJong along the way.

⚾ Dodgers 3, Cardinals 3 — End of the sixth

Top of the sixth: J.D. Martinez hit a three-run home run — his sixth homer of the season — to tie the game. Martinez’s blast over the left-center field wall came after Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman led off the inning with singles off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas.

After Martinez’s home run, Max Muncy popped out, Miguel Vargas grounded out and Cardinals center fielder Lars Nootbar made a diving catch on a David Peralta flare to cap the frame.

Bottom of the sixth: Noah Syndergaard’s night is over. He gave up four hits, three earned runs, walked one and struck out four over five innings. Yency Almote took over on the mound and promptly gave leadoff single to Nolan Gorman. An perfectly executed double play by Chris Taylor and Miguel Vargas coupled with a Willson Contreras groundout to short got Almonte out of any potential trouble.

⚾ Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0 — End of the fifth

Top of the fifth: David Peralta hit a one-out double on a sharp liner into the right-center field gap. Jason Heyward followed with a chopping grounder up the middle that was too much for Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong to make a play on. Chris Taylor flied out behind first base and Austin Barnes grounded into a force out at second to thwart a Dodgers scoring chance.

Bottom of the fifth: It’s another 1-2-3 inning for Noah Syndergaard. Tommy Edman lined out, Lars Nootbar grounded out and Paul Goldschmidt struck out. Syndergaard stands at 80 pitches, giving up four hits, walking one and striking out four.

⚾ Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0 — End of the fourth

Top of the fourth: After Mookie Betts flied out, Freddie Freeman picked up the Dodgers’ first hit on his major-league leading 17th double of the season. J.D. Martinez and Max Muncy grounded out, leaving Freeman stranded.

Bottom of the fourth: Noah Syndergaard oversees a 1-2-3 inning.

⚾ Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0 — End of the third

Top of the third: The Dodgers are still looking for their first hit off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas. Jason Heyward popped up, Chris Taylor struck out and Austin Barnes grounded out.

Bottom of the third: Nolan Gorman grounded out to short. Nolan Arenado followed with a single to left, but was caught stealing while sliding into second a few pitches later. Willson Contreras grounded out to second to cap the frame.

⚾ Cardinals 3, Dodgers 0 — End of the second

Top of the second: The Dodgers once again go down in order against Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas. Max Muncy grounded out, Miguel Vargas flied out and David Peralta struck out.

Bottom of the second: Noah Syndergaard hit Paul DeJong with a pitch before Alec Burleson doubled to left, scoring DeJong to extend the Cardinals’ lead. Lars Nootbar then plated Burleson on a sacrifice fly to deep center field. Paul Goldschmidt flied out to center to end the inning.

Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías pauses on the mound after giving up a three-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

(Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

ST. LOUIS — Already thin on starting pitching depth, the Dodgers’ rotation suffered another blow Saturday.

Two days after a woeful three-inning, six-run start against the St. Louis Cardinals, left-hander Julio Urías was put on the 15-day injured list because of what the Dodgers called a left hamstring strain.

The move came as a surprise. Despite being removed after only 68 pitches Thursday night — and a third inning in which he gave up four home runs — neither Urías nor manager Dave Roberts indicated the pitcher had any physical ailments.

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⚾ Cardinals 1, Dodgers 0 — End of the first

Top of the first: The Dodgers went down in order.

Bottom of the first: Willson Contreras hit a run-scoring single off Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard to push the Cardinals into an early lead. Syndergaard struck out Brendan Donovan to end the inning.

Mookie Betts celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 5-0 win Friday over the St. Louis Cardinals.

(Jeff Roberson / Associated Press)

ST. LOUIS — After a week of short outings from their starting pitchers, heavy innings being shouldered by their bullpen, and roller-coaster games featuring wild momentum swings from their offense, the Dodgers finally followed a more straightforward blueprint Friday night.

They got a scoreless five-inning effort from Tony Gonsolin, the first Dodgers starter to pitch past the fourth inning since his previous outing Sunday.

They got a couple of key plays from the defense, highlighted by a sixth inning in which James Outman robbed a home run and the infield turned a crucial double play.

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Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.