Kershaw Returns to Form, Dodgers Avoid Sweep in St. Louis with 7-3 Win
ST. LOUIS — Clayton Kershaw looked like his vintage self on Sunday, tossing five solid innings to earn his first win in nearly 10 months as the Los Angeles Dodgers topped the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 at Busch Stadium, preventing a three-game sweep.
Kershaw (1-0) threw 82 pitches in his season debut, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out seven and walking none. The 37-year-old southpaw hadn’t recorded at least seven strikeouts in a game since June 2023, and this marked his first win since Aug. 18, 2024—also in St. Louis.
Offensive Highlights
Tommy Edman fueled the Dodgers’ offense, driving in three runs on two hits and a sacrifice fly. Mookie Betts added a solo homer, while Shohei Ohtani chipped in with a leadoff double as part of a 1-for-4 day.
The Dodgers struck early with a three-run second inning, highlighted by Edman’s RBI single and a two-run triple from Hyeseong Kim. Edman tacked on another RBI double in the fourth, giving Los Angeles a 4-0 lead.
St. Louis responded with a two-out RBI double from Masyn Winn in the fifth, the only run charged to Kershaw.
Key Moment
One of the game's flashiest plays came in the second inning when Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn fielded a tough grounder from Betts behind second base, spun, and fired to first for a highlight-reel out. The Dodgers challenged the call, but it stood.
Notable Stat
With Sunday’s performance, Kershaw is now just 17 strikeouts away from the 3,000 mark and improved his career record against the Cardinals to 12-6.
Pitching Notes
Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy (1-1), making his season debut after being called up from Triple-A Memphis, allowed four runs over six innings. Interestingly, McGreevy was just 7 years old when Kershaw made his MLB debut back in 2008—also against the Cardinals.
What’s Next
- Dodgers: Head to San Diego to open a three-game series Monday night. Dustin May (3-4, 4.09 ERA) gets the start against the Padres.
- Cardinals: Begin a road series in Toronto Monday night. Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.91 ERA) will face the Blue Jays’ José Berríos (2-2, 3.67 ERA).