St. Louis Cardinals vs Dodgers Match Player Stats – Full Game Recap, Standouts, and Key Moments
Introduction: When Two Baseball Titans Collide
When the st. louis cardinals vs dodgers match player stats face off, fans expect a thrilling game. These two teams are full of history, talent, and passionate fans. Whether it’s a playoff atmosphere or a regular-season clash, every pitch, at-bat, and play matters. In their most recent face-off, both teams showed exactly why they are exciting to watch. To truly understand what made this game special, we need to explore the St. Louis Cardinals vs Dodgers match player stats.
Stats are like the story behind the scoreboard. They tell us who stepped up, who missed chances, and how the game was really won. From home runs and strikeouts to diving catches and clutch at-bats, every number adds to the full game picture.
In this article, we’ll go beyond the highlights. You’ll get an easy-to-read breakdown of individual performances, turning points, and the numbers that shaped this matchup. Whether you’re a stat junkie or new to baseball, this guide is for you. Let’s look inside the St. Louis Cardinals vs Dodgers match player stats and see how it all happened.
Opening Inning: Sparks Fly Early
The game started off with excitement. Both teams came out swinging, eager to take control. The Dodgers got an early baserunner with a leadoff walk by Mookie Betts, who then stole second. This put immediate pressure on the Cardinals’ pitcher Miles Mikolas. But Mikolas stayed calm, retiring the next few batters to escape without giving up a run.
In the bottom of the first, the Cardinals returned the favor. Lars Nootbaar led off with a line-drive single, and Paul Goldschmidt followed with a walk. Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller then gave up a sharp RBI single to Nolan Arenado, giving St. Louis a 1–0 lead.
The match player stats from the first inning showed how aggressive both teams were. Smart baserunning, early offense, and strong defense gave fans an exciting start.
Cardinals’ Offensive Leaders: Balanced and Explosive
The Cardinals didn’t rely on just one hitter. They shared the load across the lineup, mixing quick singles with power swings. Timely base hits helped build momentum throughout the game.
Top Cardinals Performers:
- Nolan Arenado: 3-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBIs
- Paul Goldschmidt: 2-for-3, 1 home run, 1 walk, 3 RBIs
- Jordan Walker: 2 hits, including a triple, scored twice
- Brendan Donovan: 2-for-4, 1 steal, and solid baserunning
Nolan’s early RBI gave the Cardinals the lead, but Goldschmidt’s two-run homer in the fifth broke the game open. The St. Louis Cardinals vs Dodgers match player stats clearly show how crucial that home run was in swinging the energy back to St. Louis.
Dodgers’ Bats: Power, But Missed Chances
The Dodgers didn’t go quietly. Their offense had plenty of hard-hit balls, but many rallies were stopped short by strong Cardinals defense or untimely strikeouts.
Dodgers Offensive Standouts:
- Freddie Freeman: 2-for-4, 1 RBI double
- Will Smith: 3-for-4 with a run scored
- Max Muncy: 1-for-3, 1 walk, 1 solo home run
- Mookie Betts: 0-for-3 but reached twice via walk and steal
The Dodgers’ match player stats showed they had chances to score but couldn’t cash in enough. Freeman and Smith looked locked in, but the bottom half of the lineup didn’t bring many runners in.
Starting Pitchers: One Solid, One Shaky
Both starters had very different outings, which shaped the course of the game significantly. While one looked in control, the other struggled with command.
Cardinals Starter – Miles Mikolas:
- Innings: 6.0
- Hits: 5
- Runs: 2
- Strikeouts: 5
- Walks: 1
- Home Runs Allowed: 1 (Muncy)
Mikolas wasn’t flashy, but he was efficient and composed. His sinker helped get groundouts, and he avoided big innings despite some early pressure.
Dodgers Starter – Bobby Miller:
- Innings: 4.1
- Hits: 8
- Runs: 5
- Strikeouts: 4
- Walks: 2
Miller struggled with location. The Cardinals took advantage of his fastball, hitting line drives up the middle and into the gaps. His match player stats reveal how critical it is to adjust against patient, disciplined hitters like the Cardinals lineup.
Bullpen Battle: Cardinals Seal the Deal
Once the starters were done, the bullpens took over. Here’s where St. Louis truly separated itself.
Cardinals Relief Pitchers:
- Giovanny Gallegos: 1 inning, 0 hits, 2 strikeouts
- Andre Pallante: 1 inning, 1 walk, 1 double play
- Ryan Helsley: Closed the 9th, 1 strikeout, got the save
Gallegos and Helsley are quickly becoming one of the most reliable endgame duos in MLB. The player stats show excellent control, low pitch counts, and zero walks combined.
Dodgers Bullpen:
- Brusdar Graterol: 1.0 inning, 0 runs
- Alex Vesia: 0.2 innings, 2 runs allowed
- Michael Grove: Finished the game, gave up 1 earned run
The Dodgers’ bullpen gave up runs late, making a comeback nearly impossible. These match stats reflected the fatigue or missed execution under pressure.
Defensive Highlights: Sharp Gloves Save Runs
This game had a few golden glove moments you can’t ignore. While offense gets the spotlight, defense wins innings—and maybe the game.
- Tommy Edman made a sliding catch in shallow center, robbing a hit with runners on.
- Jordan Walker threw out a runner from the outfield with a rocket to second base.
- Freddie Freeman made a scoop at first that prevented an error and extended the inning.
The St. Louis Cardinals vs Dodgers match player stats highlighted both defensive and lineup agility. One strong throw or diving catch changes the outcome.
No Hit Parade, But Still a Power Game
Home runs weren’t flying out of the park from everyone, but when Goldschmidt launched his, it mattered. His 415-foot homer put the Cards up by three.
Max Muncy answered with a solo blast in the seventh for the Dodgers, but it wasn’t enough.
Even though we only saw two homers, both were momentum shifters. These player stats prove how just one swing in the right moment can change everything.
Situational Awareness: Smart Baseball Wins
Baseball is often about the little things. Moving the runner. Stretching a single. Laying down a bunt or hitting a long fly ball to advance.
- The Cardinals were 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
- The Dodgers went 2-for-10 in the same situations.
- Cardinals grounded into 0 double plays; Dodgers grounded into 2.
- Cardinals had 2 successful steals; Dodgers had 1.
Looking at the match player stats, it’s easy to see which team played cleaner, smarter baseball. The Cardinals won not just with hits, but with timing and awareness.
Team Stats Comparison: Numbers That Tell the Truth
| Stat | Cardinals | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | 7 | 3 |
| Hits | 11 | 8 |
| Strikeouts (Offense) | 6 | 9 |
| Walks | 4 | 3 |
| Home Runs | 1 | 1 |
| Errors | 0 | 1 |
Cleaner play. Fewer strikeouts. More timely offense. The St. Louis Cardinals vs Dodgers match player stats show how consistent execution wins games—even in matchups between elite teams.
Advanced Stats Made Simple
Let’s break down a few advanced baseball numbers seen in this game.
- OPS (On-base + Slugging): Goldschmidt had a game OPS of over 1.200—elite.
- WHIP (Walks + Hits per Inning): Mikolas had a low WHIP under 1.00—great for any starter.
- BABIP (Batting Avg on Balls in Play): Cardinals hit .375 on balls in play, showing great contact and unlucky bounces for LA.
These advanced metrics help us see effort beyond traditional stats. They help measure quality of contact and overall impact more clearly.
What This Game Means for the Season
For the Cardinals, this win was a big one. Beating the Dodgers is never easy, and it takes solid team effort. With strong starts by Mikolas, power from Goldy, and airtight bullpen performances, that’s exactly what they got.
For the Dodgers, it’s a game to learn from. Not every game will go their way, especially with shaky starting pitching. Their lineup still has threats, but needs more production from the bottom third.
The match player stats prove what coaches preach: mistakes are costly, timing is everything, and smart baseball wins.
FAQs
1. Who had the most hits in the game?
Nolan Arenado led with 3 hits for the Cardinals.
2. Which pitcher earned the win?
Miles Mikolas got the win after pitching 6 solid innings with only 2 runs allowed.
3. How many home runs were hit?
Two home runs—one by Paul Goldschmidt (Cardinals) and one by Max Muncy (Dodgers).
4. What were the bullpen results for each team?
Cardinals’ bullpen gave up 0 runs. Dodgers’ relievers allowed 3 combined.
5. Did any player steal a base?
Yes. Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar stole for the Cardinals. Mookie Betts stole for LA.
6. What was the final score?
St. Louis Cardinals 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 3.
Conclusion
This game was a reminder of all the things that make baseball great. Smart hitting. Clutch pitching. Defensive hustle. And when you look closer at the St. Louis Cardinals vs Dodgers match player stats, it becomes clear that the Cardinals nailed every one of those points.
From Goldschmidt’s big bat to Mikolas’ steady arm, this was a game St. Louis earned. The Dodgers had flashes of brilliance but fell short where it counted—timing. That’s why the stat sheet matters. It tells you how and why teams win, not just when.
