Pedro Pagés made a significant impact with a two-run homer, while Sonny Gray delivered a strong performance on the mound as the St. Louis Cardinals secured a dominant 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. This match, which experienced a 1 hour and 17 minute rain delay before starting, showcased the Cardinals’ impressive form, as they have now improved to a National League-best record of 21-9 since May 4.
Gray (7-1) showcased his skills by pitching 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and striking out five batters without issuing a single walk. This game marked his second win against the Dodgers during his career, where he has faced them eight times. The relief trio of JoJo Romero, Phil Maton, and Steven Matz effectively closed out the game, ensuring the Cardinals achieved their eighth shutout of the season.
In the second inning, Pagés hit his fifth home run of the season off Justin Wrobleski (1-2), giving St. Louis an early 2-0 advantage. The Cardinals added to their lead in the fifth inning when Brendan Donovan delivered a two-out, two-run single to center, extending the score to 4-0.
Despite a promising start, with Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts both hitting singles to kick off the third inning, Gray managed to strike out key hitters, including Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández, squashing any offensive threat from the Dodgers.
An important statistic to note is that Gray has now thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings, dating back to the sixth inning of a previous game against Arizona. Remarkably, he has kept opponents off the scoreboard in four of his last six starts.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers will send right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-4, 2.39 ERA) to the mound to face Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde (3-5, 3.82) in the upcoming game on Saturday.
This performance illustrates the Cardinals’ growing momentum and their ability to rely on both strong pitching and timely hitting, which could benefit them as the season progresses.