Mookie Betts and Kevin Kiermaier hit home runs during a five-run sixth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers come back to beat the struggling St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Friday night.
This burst of offense secured Justin Wrobleski his first major league win. Wrobleski, who was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier that day, made his fifth career start.
“Huge win,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Tonight, we got contributions from everyone. And you know, it wasn’t the best-pitched game, but offensively, we came through.”
Wrobleski (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits, including three home runs, in five innings as the Dodgers ended a two-game losing streak.
“With the hitters that we have, you know you have a chance,” Wrobleski said. “So, my goal is to get as deep into the game as possible and kind of just keep us in the game.”
Evan Phillips and Joe Kelly each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Michael Kopech earned his 10th save of the season and his first with the Dodgers since joining from the Chicago White Sox last month.
Kopech threw two fastballs over 100 mph, including a 102.6 mph pitch to Victor Scott II.
“The point in the game kind of dictates the adrenaline, emotion, and everything,” Kopech said. “So obviously, closing a game for a team like this is a special feeling.”
Betts led off the sixth inning with his 12th home run, and Miguel Rojas tied the game at 4 with an RBI single off reliever Andrew Kittredge. Kiermaier’s three-run homer gave the Dodgers the lead.
“We’ve tinkered a lot, but we’re starting to get it all together, and just trying to, slowly but surely, get locked in day by day,” Kiermaier said.
Miles Mikolas (8-10) allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Cardinals lost their fifth straight game. Mikolas, who has won only once since June 22, gave up seven hits and struck out seven.
“As far as my last couple starts go, this is the best I’ve felt in a while,” Mikolas said. “A couple of bad pitches I wish I could take back. A few small hits through the infield caused problems for me in the last inning. But as far as how I threw the ball and how I felt, it was pretty good.”
Gavin Lux hit a leadoff home run in the second inning to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The 407-foot shot to straightaway center field hit the palm of Scott’s outstretched glove before bouncing into the batter’s-eye shrubbery.
Kiermaier also had an RBI single later in the inning. His four RBIs matched his season high.
“They brought me over here for my defense more than anything,” said Kiermaier, who was acquired from Toronto at the July 30 trade deadline. “But anything I can do offensively is a bonus, and I know I can be dangerous in there.”
Paul Goldschmidt tied the game 2-2 with a two-run homer into the right-field bullpen in the bottom of the second.
Masyn Winn’s solo homer in the third gave the Cardinals the lead, and Pedro Pagés’ leadoff home run in the fifth made it 4-2. Pagés’ drive was projected at 462 feet, the third-longest home run by a Cardinals player at Busch Stadium III since Statcast started tracking in 2015.
Brendan Donovan and Pagés had RBI singles in the sixth to bring the Cardinals closer at 7-6. “I thought we competed well,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “It’s just one inning blows up on you.”
