For the second consecutive night, the Cardinals offense scored more runs in a game than it had during the entire three-game series on the road in Cincinnati. The important difference in Saturday night’s contest was that the Cardinals secured the win against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
Rookie shortstop Masyn Winn (2 for 4, two runs), designated hitter Alec Burleson (3 for 4) and veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado (1 for 4) each hit home runs on a night when the Cardinals collected 11 hits on their way to a 5-2 win in front of an announced crowd of 41,929 at Busch Stadium for the second game of the three-game weekend series as well as a national television audience on Fox.
The Cardinals (61-62) snapped a five-game losing skid and pulled within a game of getting back to .500. They also gave themselves a chance to win the series with a victory in Sunday’s rubber match.
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Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (5-6) registered a quality start. He held the Dodgers to two runs on four hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out five.
Pallante, who began this season in the bullpen for the Cardinals, allowed fewer runs in his start on Saturday than he did in two relief appearances (three total innings) against the Dodgers earlier this season (three runs).
The Cardinals bullpen duo of JoJo Romero (one inning) and Ryan Helsley (one inning) combined for two perfect innings or relief. Romero, recorded his 29th hold of the season, and Helsley notched his 38th save. The Dodgers (72-52) did not have a batter reach base in the final two innings.
Helsley tied Lee Smith’s club record with 19 perfect saves. Smith recorded 19 perfect saves in 1992.
Miller steps in for Glasnow
The Dodgers placed pitcher Tyler Glasnow on the IL with right elbow tendinitis prior to Friday night’s game. Glasnow had been scheduled to start Saturday’s game against the Cardinals.
Glasnow, acquired this offseason from the Rays, started against the Cardinals in Dodger Stadium on March 28, the season opener for the Cardinals and the home opener for the Dodgers. Glasnow held the Cardinals to one run on two hits, including a Paul Goldschmidt home run, in six innings. The Dodgers won that game 7-1.
Saturday’s starter Bobby Miller rejoined the club after he’d been optioned to Triple-A on July 10. In his previous stint with the big club this season (he debuted in 2023), Miller made seven starts and posted an 8.07 ERA and a 1-2 record. That included a start against the Cardinals on March 29.
In March at Dodger Stadium, Miller held the Cardinals scoreless over six innings, struck out 11 and allowed just two hits. The Dodgers won that game 5-0.
The Dodgers optioned Friday night’s starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski as well as pitcher Michael Grove, activated right-hander Ryan Brasier and recalled Miller prior to Saturday’s game.
Miller allowed four runs on eight hits, including two home runs, and one walk in 4 2/3 innings.
Dodgers manufacture a lead, Cardinals respond
Dodgers superstar Shoehei Ohtani helped his club grab a lead in the top of the first inning against Pallante.
Ohtani drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch that sailed high at the end of a seven-pitch plate appearance. With Mookie Betts batting, Ohtani stole second base (his 36th steal of the season). Ohtani tagged up and advanced to third on Betts’ fly ball to left field.
With the Cardinals infield playing in and Ohtani on third base, Freddie Freeman singled to center field and gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Freeman snapped a string of seven games without an RBI.
The Cardinals evened the score in the bottom of the first after Burleson singled, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
With one out and Burleson on third and the Dodgers infield playing in, Willson Contreras lined an RBI single into center field.
Burleson bashes Cardinals into the lead
Burleson, who collected his 200th career hit with his single in the first inning, gave the Cardinals a two-run advantage with a two-run home run in the third inning.
Winn reached on a one-out single, and that brought Burleson to the plate for a second matchup against Miller. Burleson mashed a 2-0 fastball into the right field stands for his 21st home run of the season and his 30th of his major-league career (237 games).
Burleson entered the day with the sixth-most RBIs (50) in the majors since June 1.
Two of the first four hits Miller allowed in the game were hits by Burleson.
An eye for an eye, a homer for a homer
Pallante hadn’t given up a home run in any of his previous four starts, but Ohtani brought that streak to an abrupt end with two outs in the fifth inning.
After Pallante got Kevin Kiermaier on a grounder and struck out Kike Hernandez, Ohtani smacked a 1-1 curveball from Pallante into the home dugout beyond the right field wall for his 38th home run of the season. That made it a one-run game, 3-2, heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.
That one-run margin lasted until the first batter in the bottom of the fifth when Winn launched his 11th home run of the season, a 410-foot blast to straightaway center field.
Winn, who homered on Friday night, became the youngest Cardinals shortstop with home runs in consecutive games. Winn, who is 22 years, 147 days old, eclipsed Edgar Renteria (23 years, 34 days in 1999) for that distinction.
The Cardinals led 4-2 after Winn’s homer.