Cards' bullpen gets burned again in loss

~ The Dodgers scored two runs in the ninth inning and beat swooning St. Louis 2-1

ST. LOUIS -- Aaron Miles had no desire to face Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter again.

Fortunately for Miles, he didn't have to.

Miles hit a tying triple off Fernando Salas and then scored the go-ahead run on a bobbled grounder in the ninth inning, rallying the Los Angeles Dodgers over St. Louis 2-1 on Monday night.

Miles had been 0 for 3 against Carpenter and hadn't gotten the ball out of the infield.

Cardinals relief pitcher Fernando Salas looks toward the scoreboard as he's lifted from the game after giving up a game-tying RBI triple to the Dodgers' Aaron Miles during the ninth inning Monday in St. Louis. (Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press)

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead into the ninth behind Carpenter, who was 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA against the Dodgers going into the game.

Although Carpenter did not take the loss, he felt it nevertheless.

"It was a tough one, no question," Carpenter said. "Absolutely a tough loss."

Carpenter dominated the Dodgers for eight innings, shutting out them on five hits. He left after hitting Juan Rivera with a pitch to start the ninth.

Lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes struck out Andre Ethier, and Cardinals manager Tony La Russa brought in Salas (5-5). Miles tripled to right-center field to tie it.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Aaron Miles hits an RBI triple to tie the game during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Aug. 22, 2011, in St. Louis. Miles scored later in the inning to give the Dodgers a 2-1 victory. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

"I fell behind in the count and I went to my best pitch to the lefties, a changeup," Salas said. "The guy put a good swing on it."

Miles said that he was looking for a changeup. He also was thinking third base all the way.

"You've got to take a chance with one out," Miles said. "I knew I was going to go for it. They had to make a good relay to get me."

With Miles on third, La Russa then went to Jason Motte, who got Rod Barajas to hit a sharp grounder. But shortstop Rafael Furcal bobbled the ball briefly allowing Miles to score the go-ahead run.

The blown save was the fifth in 27 tries for Salas.

"I was just played the inning," La Russa said. "I watch what happens. You decide as you go along. He hit the first guy and with Ethier up, I figured it was better to go with the left-hander."

Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly was grateful to see Carpenter gone but would not second-guess the decision to remove him.

"We didn't do much with him, that's for sure," Mattingly said. "I'm sure Tony has his reasons. He knows his ballclub a lot better than I know his ballclub."

Matt Guerrier (4-3) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win. Javy Guerra pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 12 opportunities.

James Loney had three hits for the Dodgers. Matt Kemp was 0 for 4 and had his 11-game hitting streak snapped.

Los Angeles rookie starter Nathan Eovaldi allowed just a solo home run to Lance Berkman, his 29th, leading off the second inning. Eovaldi lasted five innings and allowed five hits while walking one and striking out two.

Noteworthy

* St. Louis failed to score in the opening frame against the Dodgers, who have allowed just 35 first-inning runs. Los Angeles is on pace to allow 45 first-inning runs, which would be the fewest by a National League team since 1920. The 1975 Dodgers' team holds the record with 49 runs allowed.

* The Dodgers' Eugenio Velez went 0 for 3 and is hitless in 25 at-bats on the year.