The Sports Xchange
May 26, 2017
LOS ANGELES -- Starting pitcher Kenta Maeda delivered a go-ahead two-run single and Chase Utley homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers wiped out a three-run deficit to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.
Maeda (4-2) shook off a shaky start to prevail. He gave up three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in five innings as the Dodgers (28-20) took two of three in the series.
Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, in his first relief appearance, struck out two in four scoreless innings and earned the save.
Chris Taylor, who went 3-for-4, had a run-scoring double in the sixth to cap the scoring.
Cardinals starter Michael Wacha (2-2) was charged with six runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks in four-plus innings. Wacha threw 100 pitches, 69 for strikes.
Catcher Yadier Molina went 2-for-4 with an RBI and extended his hitting streak to 14 games for the Cardinals (23-21), who lost for only the second time in their past 12 road games.
Jedd Gyorko doubled home Dexter Fowler and Tommy Pham with one out in the first inning for a 2-0 St. Louis lead. Gyorko advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Molina's base hit to make it 3-0.
Utley's solo shot to right in the second sliced the margin to 3-1. It was the first home run of the season for Utley.
In the fourth, the Dodgers rallied with three runs. Yasiel Puig drove in Cody Bellinger for one run and Maeda's single down the third-base line scored Enrique Hernandez and Puig for a 4-3 Dodgers edge.
Two wild pitches by Cardinals reliever Brett Cecil allowed Taylor, who singled and advanced to second on a walk, to score for a 5-3 advantage. Adrian Gonzalez's RBI single scored Corey Seager for a 6-3 lead.
NOTES: The Dodgers reinstated RHP Kenta Maeda (strained left hamstring) and placed CF Joc Pederson on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion. ... LHP Adam Liberatore was activated from the 10-day disabled list, while LHP Luis Avilan was put on the 10-day disabled list with left triceps soreness (retroactive to May 24). ... Both clubs resume play Friday in a pair of three-game series. Cardinals RHP Carlos Martinez (3-3, 3.28 ERA) will face Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (6-1, 3.67) at Coors Field in Denver. Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (5-3, 4.80) will oppose Dodgers LHP Alex Wood (5-0, 1.88) at Dodger Stadium.