ST. LOUIS (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out 13 in his hometown and Chris Taylor hit a two-run homer, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.
Scherzer (13-4) permitted one unearned run and six hits in eight innings in his 104th double-digit strikeout game, including six against St. Louis. That ties him for fifth place in MLB history.
Scherzer also recorded the ninth 200-plus strikeout season of his career. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is six away from becoming the 19th player in big league history to reach 3,000 Ks.
The Dodgers have won all seven of Scherzer’s starts since the St. Louis native was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Washington.
The Cardinals lost for the fourth time in five games. They dropped 3 1/2 games back of idle San Diego for the second NL wild card.
St. Louis right-hander Miles Mikolas (0-2) was charged with five runs, four earned, and five hits in five innings. Paul Goldschmidt had three hits for the Cardinals, and Tommy Edman scored the team's only run on Austin Barnes' passed ball in the sixth.
The Dodgers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first. Mikolas needed 31 pitches to get out of the inning.
Trea Turner doubled and scored on Mookie Betts' single. After Max Muncy scored on a double play, Corey Seager walked before Taylor drove a fastball into the left-field bullpen for his 20th homer.
Los Angeles added an unearned run in the third. Betts walked and went to second on a pickoff throwing error by catcher Andrew Knizner. He scampered home on Seager's two-out single.
The Dodgers entered play one game back of NL West-leading San Francisco.
Mikolas has not pitched more than five innings in any start this season. He has allowed three or more earned runs in each of his last three starts.
St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado and catcher Yadier Molina each got the day off.
In the top the ninth, a loud “We want Albert” chant began for former Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. When he did not appear to pinch-hit, the crowd of 43,575, the largest of the year, rang out with loud boos.
The Dodgers visited Busch Stadium III for the first time since April 8-11, 2019, a span of 879 days.
Dodgers: RHP Neftalí Féliz was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and LHP Andrew Vasquez was sent down. Féliz, 33, returns for his second stint with the club after being designated for assignment on Aug. 24. The 2010 All-Star has spent 10 years in the majors.
Cardinals: RHP Brandon Dickson, 36, has been designated for assignment. Dickson, who helped the U.S. to a silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics, had his contract selected by the club on Sept. 1. In two relief appearances, he allowed two runs on four hits.