The Los Angeles Dodgers began Players Weekend with a 7-6 win against the St. Louis Cardinals thanks to a key home run from Kevin Kiermaier, which capped off a big inning to take the lead.
The Dodgers once again got off to a hot start, which has been a common trend for them recently until struggling to score in the later innings. However, this game proved to be different with a five-run sixth inning.
Entering the sixth trailing 4-2, Mookie Betts started off the inning with a home run before three straight singles from Gavin Lux, Will Smith and Miguel Rojas tied the game at four. Kiermaier then blasted his first homer with the Dodgers to give them a 7-4 lead.
Both Lux and Kiermaier also contributed earlier in the game as well to give the Dodgers their two runs entering the inning. Lux homered in the second to start the scoring in the game and after Rojas doubled, Kiermaier singled him home to cap off the two-run inning.
Justin Wrobleski was added to the roster just before the game to make the start. It was originally Tyler Glasnow’s scheduled day, but they pushed him back and then ended up placing him on the 15-day injured list.
Wrobleski ended up throwing five innings while giving up four runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
After the Dodgers took the lead in the second, the Cardinals answered with a walk by Nolan Arenado and a two-run homer from Paul Goldschmidt, showing a bit of a flashback to the past.
The Cardinals ended up taking the lead in the third inning on a solo home run by Masyn Winn, and Pedro Pagés added on to their lead in the fifth with a solo blast of his own.
Michael Grove ended up replacing Wrobleski, but walked two of the first three hitters he faced before being replaced by Anthony Banda. Brendan Donovan singled to drive in a run, and Pagés drove in another run with a single to make in a 7-6 game.
Michael Kopech gets save chance for Dodgers
Evan Phillips worked the seventh and Joe Kelly got the eighth, both tossing a scoreless inning. For the ninth, Michael Kopech got his first save opportunity.
Kopech has been impressing and earning Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ trust, and the skipper did not rule out the possibility of making him the closer.
Kopech ended up working a perfect ninth, striking out the first and third hitters of the inning and hitting 103 mph along the way.
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