By STEVE KNOX
Sports Connection Team
LOS ANGELES - Riverside High School alum Gavin Stone pitched five solid innings but did not factor in the decision in the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
Stone struck out six, including striking out the side in the top of the first, while walking only one. Stone would give up three hits and a run the top of the third and a second run in the fifth. Stone would give up a lead off walk in the sixth and would exit the game trailing 2-0.
Dodger relief pitcher Alex Vesia would walk the bases loaded and then hit a batter to force in a run. An interference call on Los Angeles catcher Austin Barnes would give the visiting St. Louis Cardinals a 4-0 lead. However, the Dodgers would rally with two runs in the bottom of the inning and would take the lead in the eighth inning on a Max Muncy two-run home run to take a 5-4 lead.
Dodger reliever Nabil Crismatt earned the win with two scoreless innings and Daniel Hudson earned the save.
Stone’s pitching line was 5 plus innings pitched with three earned runs on seven hits, one walk and six strike outs. Stone threw 85 pitches in the contest.
The Cardinals surrendered a four run lead as the relief pitchers were unable to hold the lead starter Steven Matz gave them. John King, Andrew Kittredge and Andre Pallante gave up three runs in 2.2 innings of work, including the game winning home run by Muncy.
Los Angeles improved to 4-2 this season, while St. Louis fell to 1-3.