LOS ANGELES — New fathers Mookie Betts and Max Muncy powered the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday evening.

Betts hit a leadoff homer and Muncy had a go-ahead double within the third inning as Los Angeles gained the opener of a six-game homestand after shedding consecutive video games at Pittsburgh. Betts spent two days on the paternity listing final week, and Muncy returned to the lineup Friday.

Dodgers starter Dustin May (3-1) rebounded from a bumpy first inning to surrender two runs on three hits over 5 innings with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts. Jason Heyward drove in two runs for Los Angeles, and rookie Miguel Vargas had a two-run homer.

“I would definitely like to get more than five (innings), but at that point and time I wasted a lot of throws, throwing a lot of balls,” mentioned May, who threw a career-high 104 pitches. “It was good to get through five and help the guys out.”

Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty, who grew up within the Los Angeles space, allowed a season-high 5 runs over 4 2/3 innings whereas throwing 110 pitches - his most since 2019. He permitted seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

“Jack did a nice job. His pitch count got up there,” Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol mentioned. “But overall, when you look at what actually happened, there was a lot of soft balls put in play, found holes and cost a couple of runs. But his curveball got a lot of swings and misses today.”

PHOTOS: Betts and Muncy, each new dads, energy Dodgers previous Cards 7-3

Flaherty (2-3) was staked to an early 2-0 lead because the Cardinals started the sport with a stroll to Lars Nootbaar and a double by Paul Goldschmidt. Nootbaar scored on a wild pitch earlier than May had even recorded an out.

St. Louis scored its second run of the primary inning when Goldschmidt got here residence on a sacrifice fly from Willson Contreras.

The Dodgers mounted a fast response with Betts’ fourth residence run of the season on Flaherty’s fifth pitch. Freddie Freeman adopted with a single, Muncy walked with one out and Heyward singled to tie the sport.

Los Angeles took the lead for good within the third. Freeman led off with a single and scored on a one-out double by Muncy, who missed the earlier three video games in opposition to the Pirates whereas on the paternity listing. Heyward adopted together with his personal double simply inside third base to attain Muncy.

The Dodgers loaded the bases within the fifth when Heyward reached on catcher’s interference. James Outman was hit by a pitch to make it 5-2.

“A game like this, when a team like St. Louis is always going to fight to the end, it’s nice to add on,” mentioned Heyward, who additionally made a sliding catch in proper discipline that saved a minimum of one run within the third inning. “It’s not easy to get runners in scoring position. So when you get guys up there in that situation, it’s nice to cash in a couple of times.”

Vargas added some insurance coverage with a two-run homer within the seventh, his first.

Flaherty is winless in 4 profession begins at Dodger Stadium. The Cardinals are 2-6 on a 10-game West Coast journey that ends Sunday.

“(Goldschmidt) is about to get hot. The swings he is taking right now are really good,” Marmol mentioned. “Nolan (Arenado) is looking a lot better, so that’s a plus. … There are several things pointing (up) but at the end of the day, you’re paid to win.”

After the Pirates stole 12 bases in opposition to the Dodgers in three video games this week, the Cardinals had three extra steals with Austin Barnes behind the plate.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LF Tyler O’Neill was a late scratch with mid-back tightness.

Dodgers: C Will Smith was activated from the concussion listing, whereas Muncy and RHP Brusdar Graterol got here off the paternity listing. In corresponding strikes, INF Luke Williams and LHP Justin Bruihl have been optioned to the minors, and DH J.D. Martinez (again tightness) was positioned on the injured listing.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: LHP Jordan Montgomery (2-3, 3.81 ERA) takes the mound after a hard-luck loss at San Francisco when he gave up simply an unearned run.

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (4-1, 2.32) has given up one run over his final two begins.

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