Ryu Hyun-jin gets no-decision in NLDS vs. Cardinals

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers got a no-decision despite a solid outing in his first playoff start of the year on Monday in St. Louis.

The South Korean lefty pitched six solid innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, giving up one earned run on five hits and striking out four.

Ryu threw 94 pitches, 59 of them for strikes.

Justin Turner pinch hit for Ryu in the top of the seventh with the score tied at 1-1, and Scott Elbert, also a left-hander, relieved Ryu to start the bottom of the seventh.

Elbert promptly gave up a tie-breaking two-run homer to Kolten Wong in the seventh.

Held back by feeble offense and shaky bullpen, the Dodgers lost the game 3-1. The Cards now lead the best-of-five series two games to one.

Though he was making his first start in 24 days, Ryu showed almost no ill effects of rust. He pumped his fastballs at 94 miles per hour from the onset and fooled hitters with breaking pitches.

Ryu's only blemish was the solo homer he gave up to Matt Carpenter in the bottom of the third. It ended up being the only run he allowed on this night.

Ryu's previous start had come on Sept. 12, when he lasted just one inning and got shelled for four earned runs on five hits against the San Francisco Giants. He then missed the rest of the regular season with inflammation on his pitching shoulder.

Last year, he earned his first career postseason victory against the Cardinals in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, tossing seven shutout innings at Dodger Stadium. He became the first South Korean to win a postseason game in the majors, but the Dodgers went on to lose the series in six games.

On Monday, the Dodgers missed some early opportunities to score before Hanley Ramirez doubled in a tying run in the sixth. Yasiel Puig hit a triple to open that frame, and after two outs, Ramirez delivered a double down the right field line.

It was the only run the Dodgers could muster against the Cardinals' starter John Lackey, who pitched seven strong innings and struck out eight. Pat Neshek and Trevor Rosenthal combined for two shutout innings to slam the doors on the Dodgers.

The Dodgers put two men on with one out in the top ninth against Rosenthal, but the Cards' closer retired the final two batters for the save.

Ryu said afterward he had no issues with his shoulder, and he felt good enough to pitch deeper into the game.

"I could have kept pitching into the seventh inning," Ryu said.

"If my manager (Don Mattingly) asked me to take the mound in the seventh, I certainly would have done that."

He said it was disappointing to give up a homer to Carpenter, a left-handed batter, on a 1-2 count.

"I tried to attack the outside corner against left-handed batters," he said. "I gave up a hit and a homer, and I think they hit outside pitches well."

The bullpen has been the Dodgers' great undoing so far this series, but Ryu said he expected his relief pitchers to bounce back.

"Everyone has had a long season," he added. "I think they will have good outings the rest of the postseason."

Ryu refused to blame home plate umpire Dale Scott for giving him trouble. Scott frequently squeezed Ryu on inside pitches against right-handed batters.

"That's his preference," he said. "There's nothing I can do about it, and I have to make adjustments." (Yonhap)