Rod Barajas hit two home runs and had a ground-rule double, providing offensive support for Clayton Kershaw, who pitched six scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 13-2 Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Not that Kershaw needed much support. The left-hander pitched six scoreless innings in the sweltering heat, earning his 16th victory of the season, tied for most in the National League.
Matt Kemp got things started, hitting a three-run home run in the top of the first inning off Kyle Lohse, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead after just three batters. It was the 29th home run of the season for Kemp, who also doubled on the night. Kemp needs one more home run to join Raul Mondesi as the only Dodger members of the 30/30 club.
Barajas added a solo shot in the third inning to make it 8-0, and a three-run home run in the fifth to make it 11-0 Dodgers. Barajas also hit a double down the left field line that bounced and hit over the fence in left field, capping quite a night for the Dodgers catcher. Barajas was the first Dodgers catcher to hit two home runs in a game since Russell Martin on August 15, 2007.
Kershaw struck out eight in his six innings, pushing his National League-leading total to 207. The six scoreless innings lowered Kershaw's ERA to 2.51, and he is tied with Ian Kennedy of Arizona for the league lead with 16 wins.
Skip Schumaker, normally an infielder, pitched the ninth inning for the Cardinals, and even struck out Trent Oeltjen. Schumaker hit 93 mph once on the radar gun. However, former Cardinal and friend of Schumaker Aaron Miles took the position player deep with a no-doubt home run to right field. By winning the first two games of the series at Busch Stadium, the Dodgers achieved their first regular season series win St. Louis since 2003.
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