LOS ANGELES • Right about the time the Cardinals believe they saw Dexter Fowler find the trigger at the plate that could ignite their offense, he may have lost it trying to make a play on defense.
Fowler entered Thursday’s late game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the second-longest hitless streak of his career, and manager Mike Matheny traced Fowler’s slip back to a diving catch attempt he made in center field earlier this month. The play jarred Fowler’s right shoulder and knocked him from the lineup for a road trip.
Thus began his slump.