MLB/ Dodgers’ late homers complete comeback win over Cardinals

REUTERS

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Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) scores a run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on Mar 31, 2024. (USA TODAY Sports/ via REUTERS)

Max Muncy hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning Sunday and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a four-run deficit over the final four innings to earn a 5-4 victory over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

Teoscar Hernandez also hit a home run in the eighth inning and had two RBIs as the Dodgers’ offense finally came to life late against the Cardinals’ bullpen.

The top three of the Dodgers’ order in Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman went just 1-for-11, but the lone hit proved key when Ohtani doubled and scored a run in the sixth inning.

Betts saw his four-game streak with a home run come to an end, missing out on tying the Dodgers’ record of five. Dodgers starter Gavin Stone gave up three runs on seven hits over five-plus innings in his first start of the season.

Nabil Crismatt (1-0) picked up the victory with two scoreless innings in his Dodgers debut and Daniel Hudson pitched the ninth for his first save.

Brendan Donovan and Paul Goldschmidt each drove in two runs and Steven Matz pitched into the sixth inning for the Cardinals, who nearly split their four-game opening series of the season after losing the first two games.

Matz gave up two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings with two walks and three strikeouts in his first start of the season. Left-hander John King (0-1) gave up Muncy’s home run and was tagged with the loss.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the third inning when Goldschmidt looped a broken-bat single to left field to bring home Victor Scott II. An RBI single by Donovan in the fifth inning made it 2-0.

Stone walked Willson Contreras to open the sixth inning and was replaced by Alex Vesia, who loaded the bases on walks to Jordan Walker and Scott. Donovan was hit by a pitch to make it 3-0 and Goldschmidt was credited with an RBI on catcher’s interference.

The Dodgers finally scored in their half of the sixth inning when Ohtani led off with a ground-rule double against Matz and scored on a double from Hernandez. Three batters after Andrew Kittredge replaced Matz, James Outman cut the Los Angeles deficit to 4-2 with a groundout following Muncy’s pinch-hit single to load the bases.