Los Angeles Dodgers Luis Cruz (47) is welcomed at home plate by Andre Ethier after hitting a three run home run in the second inning. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Los Angeles Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley allowed a run and four hits in six innings to win for the first time since June 10 as the Cardinals saw their modest three game win streak come to an end in a 5-3 loss on Monday night at Busch Stadium. Billingsley just returned from the DL, and had great off speed pitches working most of the night as he battled 101 degree heat and humidity. “Good old St. Louis, that humidity.”
Lance Berkman singled in a run in the first to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, but Luis Cruz hit a three-run homer off starter Joe Kelly in the second to erase the early advantage and push the Dodgers to their fifth straight win. Mark Ellis pushed the lead to 5-1 with a two-run double in the seventh off Victor Marte.
Carlos Beltran closed the gap with a two-run homer in the eighth, his 22nd of the year.