Cardinals Comeback Against Dodgers
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The St. Louis Cardinals staged a thrilling late-game comeback to secure a 5-3 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, meanwhile, celebrated a personal milestone, hitting his 1,000th career hit and striking out a season-high eight batters in just four innings.
Key Moments of the Game
Jordan Walker played a crucial role for the Cardinals, recording three hits, including a pivotal RBI single off Alex Vesia (2-1) in the eighth inning that leveled the score with two outs. The situation escalated when rookie third baseman Alex Freeland committed a throwing error attempting to get Walker out at second, which allowed St. Louis to take a 4-3 lead.
In the ninth, Lars Nootbaar contributed to the Cardinals’ offense with a run-scoring double against reliever Brock Stewart, further extending their lead.
Starting Lineup Changes
Walker’s appearance in the starting lineup came unexpectedly as he stepped in for Willson Contreras, who was sidelined due to a stomach bug.
Pitching Highlights
JoJo Romero (4-3) picked up the win after delivering a scoreless inning in relief, while Riley O’Brien secured his first major league save by retiring four batters.
Ohtani’s Performance
Ohtani allowed one run and two hits during his outing, maintaining a solid performance as he struck out the side in the fourth. His two-run homer in the third inning marked his 39th home run of the season, briefly giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. The Dodgers would add another run in the fourth when Andy Pages stole third and capitalized on a throwing error by catcher Pedro Pagés.
The Cardinals chipped away at the lead, narrowing the score to 3-2 with an RBI groundout from Nootbaar in the sixth.
Upcoming Matchups
Looking ahead, Cardinals rookie Michael McGreevy (3-2, 5.08 ERA) is set to face off against Matthew Boyd (11-4, 2.34) and the Chicago Cubs on Friday night. Meanwhile, Dodgers’ left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 3.29 ERA) will take the mound against Toronto’s right-hander Max Scherzer (2-1, 4.39) in a notable clash between members of the 3,000-strikeout club.
