By Dylan Hernandez, Los Angeles Times –
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers won another game, but also lost another player.
Before their 6-0 victory over the defending World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night, the Dodgers put second baseman Mark Ellis on the 15-day disabled list because of what was called a “left leg injury.”
Ellis, who provided a steady set of hands in the middle of the infield and served capably as the No. 2 hitter, became the fourth Dodgers starter on the disabled list. The others: Matt Kemp, Juan Rivera and Juan Uribe.
With half of their everyday position players sidelined, Clayton Kershaw responded the way he often responds in times of crisis.
Kershaw pitched a complete game, limiting the Cardinals to six hits. Only two visiting players reached scoring position, neither with fewer than two out.
“As a team we’re going to have to step up,” Kershaw said.
Kershaw struck out four and improved to 4-1. He didn’t walk a batter.
The shutout was Kershaw’s first of the season and fourth of his career.
“He’s a handful, I don’t care who he’s facing,” Manager Don Mattingly said.
The Dodgers improved to a major league-best 27-13, including 18-4 at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers went ahead, 2-0, in the fourth inning when a fielding error by substitute first baseman Matt Carpenter allowed Bobby Abreu and Andre Ethier to score.
Kershaw preserved the advantage, setting the stage for a four-run seventh inning that increased the margin to 6-0 and put the contest out of the Cardinals’ reach.
The four-run push started with a solo home run by Justin Sellers, who started at shortstop in place of the slumping Dee Gordon. Kershaw doubled and scored on a single by Tony Gwynn Jr., who later scored on a wild pitch. Ethier singled to center field to drive in his National League-leading 36th run.
“We’re getting hits from different people,” Mattingly said. “We just keep scratching.”
The win assured the Dodgers of a series victory against the Cardinals, who have lost seven of their last nine games but still lead the National League Central. The three-game series concludes Sunday.
The Cardinals have their own health problems. First baseman Lance Berkman exited the game after he stretched to catch a ball thrown his way by shortstop Rafael Furcal in the second inning and injured his right knee.
The visitors recently put two of their outfielders, Jon Jay and Allen Craig, on the disabled list.
The Dodgers revealed no details of Ellis’ injury before the game. Although they had the results of an MRI exam from earlier in the day, they said they were waiting on more test results.
Mattingly wouldn’t place a timetable on Ellis’ return.
Signed to a two-year, $8.75-million contract in the off-season, Ellis has shown surprising range in the middle of the infield considering he is 34 years old. He was hitting .273 with two home runs and 19 runs batted in
“I think he’s a great player,” Mattingly said of Ellis. “He’s one of those guys, the more you see him, the better he is. It’s a tough guy to replace.”
Ellis was injured Friday at second base by sliding second baseman Tyler Greene, who broke up a double play by upending Ellis.
Greene thought his slide was clean.
“I didn’t think he anticipated me being as close to the bag as I was,” Greene said.
Mattingly didn’t have any problems with how Greene slid into Ellis.
“We felt like it was clean,” Mattingly said. “We felt like it was a good, hard slide.”
The Dodgers recalled infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. from triple-A Albuquerque to replace Ellis.
