Photos: Cardinals open up series against Dodgers with 16-8 win
The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 16-8 to start the series at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras celebrates hitting a three run home run in the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright's 4-year-old son, Caleb, pokes his head out from under the table his dad is sitting at during a press conference after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong throws to first for an out in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (11) flies through the air throwing to first after getting St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) out at second in the second inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals' Juan Yepez celebrates after hitting a home run in the third inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Mike Matheny, a former St. Louis Cardinals player and manager, poses for a photo with Debbie Streif, left, and her daughter Mara, both from Lebanon, IL, before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright pitches in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Bobbleheads of Mike Matheny, a former St. Louis Cardinals player and manager, wait to be bought and signed before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman (19) catches a fly ball as he collides with Lars Nootbaar in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman watches a play in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws a pitch in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras reacts after swinging at a strike in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar catches a fly ball in the second inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Jason Johnson, from St. Louis, holds a bobblehead of Mike Matheny, a former St. Louis Cardinals player and manager, before having it signed by Matheny before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
The Cardinals' Paul DeJong flips his bat after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
The Cardinals' Nolan Gorman, right, celebrates hitting a home run right after Cardinals outfielder Juan Yepez hit one as well in the third inning against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras celebrates on his way to home plate after hitting a three-run home run to give the Cardinals the lead in the third inning against the Dodgers at Busch Stadium on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
Fans celebrate as St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Gorman make his way to home plate after hitting a home run in the third inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws a pitch in the first inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Nolan Arenado, right, celebrates with Andrew Knizner after hitting a two run home run in the fourth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) walks to the dugout after being taken out of the game in the sixth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Genesis Cabrera throws a pitch in the sixth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt looks up at his foul ball in the sixth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals' Brendan Donovan's helmet flys off as he runs safely to home to score a run in the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals fans go wild as Brendan Donovan runs safely to home to score a run in the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras celebrates hitting a three run home run in the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras celebrates hitting a three run home run in the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras celebrates hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
Teammates greet St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras, center, after he hit a three run home run in the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright pulls his 4-year-old son, Caleb, away from a microphone during a press conference after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright holds his 4-year-old son, Caleb, during a press conference after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright receives a kiss from his 4-year-old son, Caleb, during a press conference after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright laughs while receiving a hug from his 4-year-old son, Caleb, during a press conference after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright's 4-year-old son, Caleb, pokes his head out from under the table his dad is sitting at during a press conference after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Photo by Michael Clubb, mclubb@post-dispatch.com
Michael Clubb
Photographer
The Cardinals could utilize Matthew Liberatore as a relief pitcher in the coming days in the event of an emergency.
Once bullpen answered the call and calmed a one-run game, Cardinals added seven runs in eighth inning. Contreras, Gorman hit two homers each in rout.
Cardinals slugged seven homers in 16-8 win Thursday against Dodgers, have hit 23 in nine games, and they had other antics planned but 'can't just find a big, old hamburger hat.'
"When it comes to people telling me to quit my emotion or take it away, that’s a no for me," said Willson Contreras after his emphatic and first Cardinals curtain call. "Don’t go there. Because that’s one thing that makes me good."