Cardinals Hit 7 Home Runs at Home For First Time in 83 Years, Power Past Dodgers 16-8

Willson Contreras hit two three-run homers, Nolan Gorman also homered twice and the St. Louis Cardinals went deep seven times in a home game for the first time in 83 years to power past the Los Angeles Dodgers 16-8 in a slugfest Thursday night.

Nolan Arenado added a two-run homer, and Juan Yepez and Paul DeJong each hit solo homers run for St. Louis.

The Cardinals, who have homered in a season-high seven games in a row, hit seven in a home game for the first time since May 7, 1940, when they did it against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Yepez, Gorman and DeJong hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning.

Freddie Freeman hit a grand slam and Max Muncy added a solo homer for the Dodgers. It was the fourth grand slam for Freeman and his 300th career homer. Los Angeles leads the majors this season with five grand slams and rank second with 74 homers.

Freddie joins the 300 club in grand style! pic.twitter.com/Jf8NvLEUT6

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 19, 2023

The teams’ nine combined home runs set a record for Busch Stadium.

Adam Wainwright (1-0) allowed five runs — two earned — and five hits in 5 1/3 innings for the win in his third start this season.

Dodgers starter Julio Urias (5-4) made his first career start against the Cardinals and it didn’t go well. He gave up six runs in three innings.

The Cardinals batted around with four home runs in a six-run third inning off Urias. Contreras hit a one-out, three-run shot 434 feet to center field. With two outs, pinch-hitter Yepez, Gorman and DeJong hit back-to-back-to-back homers.

St. Louis added three runs in the fourth off Phil Bickford. Oscar Mercado, who had three hits, scored on a double steal. Arenado hit a two-run homer with two outs to extend the Cardinals' lead to 9-2. It was Arenado’s sixth home run in his last seven games.

Facing reliever Genesis Cabrera, Freeman hit a grand slam home run to highlight the Dodgers’ five-run sixth. Muncy led off the seventh with a homer to chase Cabrera and cut the lead to 9-8.

Contreras' second three-run homer and Gorman's two-run blast highlighted a seven-run eighth inning.

19 AND 206 AND COUNTING

Contreras became the 19th catcher to be behind the plate for Wainwright, who made his 206th career start at Busch Stadium III, passing Red Ruffing (205 starts at the original Yankee Stadium) for 20th all-time in MLB history for a single stadium.

WELCOME BACK

Former St. Louis catcher and manager Mike Matheny was honored on the field and threw out a first pitch to former outfielder Willie McGee. A Matheny bobblehead was given away to fans attending the game. Matheny was fired as the manager in 2018.

OUTFIELD COLLISION

In the second inning, RF Tommy Edman caught a fly ball in right center hit by Miguel Rojas and held onto it after CF Lars Nootbaar collided with him. Both men fell on the warning track with Edman holding his glove aloft showing he had the ball. He left the game in the fourth inning when Yepez pinch hit for him. Edman was experiencing soreness in his lower abdomen.

ROSTER MOVES

Dodgers: RHP Andre Jackson and LHP Justin Bruihl were recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... Designated RHP pitcher Dylan Covey for assignment. He pitched four innings Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits in the no decision.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Dustin May (right flexor pronator strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list. May suffered an elbow injury in the first inning of Wednesday’s come-from-behind 7-3 victory. On the season, he is 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA.

Cardinals: LF Tyler O’Neill (lower back strain) has been out since May 5 and did not begin a rehab assignment Thursday. Instead, he was to meet with doctors about his “lingering discomfort.”

UP NEXT

Dodgers: RHP Tony Gonsolin (1-1, 1.42) is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA and 16 strikeouts in three career starts against St. Louis.

Cardinals: LHP Steven Matz (0-4, 5.62) has made five career starts against the Dodgers, but this will be his first as a member of the Cardinals.