Dodgers win in ninth inning on Matt Kemp’s homer

The Dodgers might be pretty potent if the middle of their batting order could hit in each inning.

Andre Ethier doubled and Matt Kemp followed with a two-run, walk-off home run Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium to lift the Dodgers to a 2-1, come-from- behind victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ethier led off the ninth with a double to right field off Cardinals reliever Trever Miller, extending his hitting streak to 14 games, and Kemp followed by depositing closer Ryan Franklin’s first pitch onto the black tarp over the seats in center field.

Earlier in the inning, it appeared the Dodgers might not snap their five-game losing streak.

David Freese flared a run-scoring single to right field with two out in the top of the ninth, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

Freese drove in Matt Holliday, who had doubled to right-center with two out off Jonathan Broxton. The Dodgers closer then intentionally walked Lance Berkman before facing Freese.

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley was masterful, giving up only two hits and two walks while striking out 11 in eight scoreless innings. Holliday had both of the hits off Billingsley.

Chris Carpenter was equally effective for the Cardinals, pitching seven scoreless innings in which he surrendered five hits and no walks while striking out six.

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