Yohel Pozo delivered a go-ahead, pinch-hit RBI single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3–2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. The Cardinals, listed as +140 underdogs entering the series opener, secured a narrow win behind timely late-inning hitting and a strong start from right-hander Sonny Gray.
With the score tied 2–2 in the ninth, Willson Contreras led off with a single against Dodgers reliever Brock Stewart. Pinch-runner Garrett Hampson advanced on a groundout and later scored when Pozo flared a soft single into right field, giving the Cardinals the lead. It was just the second hit in eight games for Pozo, who celebrated the clutch moment as he reached first base.
Gray held the Dodgers to one hit across seven scoreless innings. He struck out six and issued two walks, continuing a stretch of consistent performances on the mound. The Cardinals’ bullpen, despite some tense moments, preserved the win. Riley O’Brien, who gave up the tying run in the eighth inning, earned his first major league win at age 30. JoJo Romero closed out the game in the ninth for his second save of the season, retiring Max Muncy with two runners on to end the contest.
Tyler Glasnow matched Gray in an impressive pitcher’s duel, allowing one run on three hits over seven innings for the Dodgers. The right-hander struck out seven and retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced. Despite his efforts, Glasnow remains winless since March 31, with a 2.17 ERA over his last nine starts.
St. Louis opened the scoring in the third inning when rookie Masyn Winn homered off Glasnow, ending a 32-game drought without a long ball. The solo shot was one of only three hits Glasnow allowed.
The Dodgers responded in the bottom half of the inning when Freddie Freeman tied the game with a solo home run, his 15th of the season. Freeman’s homer was the only run Los Angeles managed off Gray.
The eighth inning brought further drama as Iván Herrera put the Cardinals ahead 2–1 with a two-out home run off O’Brien. However, the Dodgers responded in the bottom of the frame. Teoscar Hernández led off with a double, advanced on a groundout, and scored on a second ground ball to even the score at two.
Los Angeles could tie or win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Shohei Ohtani led off with a single, and Mookie Betts nearly drove him in, but a diving catch by Lars Nootbaar caught his tailing fly ball down the right field line. Romero then retired Freeman and Muncy to seal the win.
The Cardinals improved to 53–59 with the victory, while the Dodgers fell to 65–48. The series continues Tuesday night with St. Louis sending right-hander Miles Mikolas (6–8, 4.83 ERA) to the mound against Los Angeles right-hander Emmet Sheehan (2–2, 3.60 ERA).