Los Angeles Dodgers Beat St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 as Kershaw Dominates, Betts Homers, and Edman, Kim Deliver Big Hits
The Los Angeles Dodgers showed once again why they remain one of Major League Baseball’s elite teams, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3 in a confident and well-balanced performance. Behind a strong start from veteran ace Clayton Kershaw, clutch hitting from Tommy Edman and Hye-seong Kim, and a timely home run by superstar Mookie Betts, the Dodgers put together a complete game that demonstrated the depth and talent of their 2025 roster.
Kershaw, making just his second start of the young season, looked every bit the future Hall of Famer he is. The left-hander threw five strong innings, allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out seven. More importantly, he kept the Cardinals off balance with his signature curveball and precise command. The outing earned him his first win of the season and served as a reassuring sign for Dodgers fans, who have been eager to see if the 36-year-old can still anchor the team’s rotation as effectively as he has in years past.
From the outset, the Dodgers looked locked in, both on the mound and at the plate. After a quiet first inning, they broke through in the second, when Hye-seong Kim—a newcomer from the KBO League who has been adjusting quickly to MLB pitching—stepped up with a two-run single that put Los Angeles ahead. Kim’s arrival to the Dodgers was met with intrigue, and his growing comfort at the plate is rapidly turning him into a fan favorite. His approach has been patient and calculated, and on this night, he made the Cardinals pay for a poorly located fastball by lining it sharply into right-center field, driving in two.
Not to be outdone, Tommy Edman delivered one of his finest offensive performances of the season. The switch-hitting infielder racked up three RBIs, including a bases-clearing double in the fourth that opened up a lead the Dodgers never relinquished. Edman, a former Cardinal himself, played with extra fire against his old team and proved once again how valuable his versatility and bat can be to this Dodgers lineup. He has always been known for his defensive acumen and speed, but games like this highlight his offensive upside.
The biggest moment of the night, however, came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mookie Betts stepped up to the plate and launched a solo home run deep into the left-field pavilion. The swing was classic Betts—compact, efficient, and powerful. With one quick flick of the bat, he electrified the crowd and padded the Dodgers’ lead to 6-1. It was his fourth home run of the season and a reminder of just how dynamic he can be in all phases of the game. Betts continues to set the tone for the Dodgers offensively and defensively, and his leadership in the clubhouse remains as valuable as his box-score contributions.
Defensively, the Dodgers were sharp. Kershaw benefited from crisp infield play behind him, including a pair of slick double plays turned by Edman and shortstop Gavin Lux. Outfielders James Outman and Betts both made critical catches on the run to limit extra-base hits, and catcher Will Smith called a strong game behind the plate, keeping Kershaw in rhythm while also throwing out a would-be base stealer in the third inning.
After Kershaw exited the game following the fifth inning, the Dodgers bullpen took over and handled the rest with minimal stress. Manager Dave Roberts turned to right-hander Michael Grove, who pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh, striking out three. Grove has emerged as a reliable bridge arm out of the bullpen, and his continued development adds another dimension to a pitching staff that already features high-end arms like Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, struggled to mount consistent offense against Kershaw and the Dodgers’ bullpen. They managed to score once off Kershaw in the third inning on a two-out RBI single from Brendan Donovan, and they added two more runs in the eighth off reliever Alex Vesia, thanks to a pair of doubles by Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. But by then, the game was mostly out of reach, and the Dodgers were in firm control.
Offensively, the Cardinals failed to come up with big hits in key situations. Despite tallying nine hits overall, they left seven men on base and went just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. It was a frustrating night for manager Oliver Marmol, whose team has struggled to find consistency in the early going this season. With young players still finding their rhythm and veterans not yet firing on all cylinders, the Cardinals will need to regroup quickly if they hope to remain competitive in the NL Central.
For the Dodgers, the victory improved their record to 8-4, keeping them within striking distance of the top spot in the National League West. Perhaps more important than the win itself was the way it came. With contributions from both newcomers and veterans, the Dodgers displayed the kind of roster balance that championship teams are built on. Edman’s three RBIs, Kim’s two-run knock, Betts’ solo blast, and Kershaw’s effective start showcased the multifaceted danger this team presents to opponents on any given night.
The presence of Hye-seong Kim in particular is beginning to make a noticeable impact. Coming over from the Kiwoom Heroes in Korea, Kim has made a relatively smooth transition to MLB pitching. His plate discipline and ability to hit to all fields have given Roberts another quality bat toward the bottom of the lineup, which makes the Dodgers even more dangerous from top to bottom. While it’s still early, Kim’s performance so far suggests he could be one of the most impactful international additions this season.
Kershaw’s outing was also noteworthy beyond just the stat line. His velocity may not be what it once was, but his mastery of pitch sequencing, deception, and movement remains elite. He mixed his slider and curveball beautifully, rarely giving Cardinals hitters the same look twice. Even with a reduced pitch count due to early-season workload management, Kershaw made the most of every inning and looked in complete control.
Speaking after the game, Kershaw downplayed the milestone of earning his first win of the season but emphasized the importance of finding rhythm and helping the team win. “It’s always good to get a win, but more than that, it just feels good to contribute,” Kershaw said. “We’ve got a great team here, and it’s about putting together quality starts and letting our guys do the rest.”
Roberts echoed the sentiment in his postgame comments. “Clayton gave us exactly what we needed tonight,” the manager said. “He’s a pro’s pro. He sets the tone every time he takes the ball. And offensively, I thought we did a great job capitalizing on opportunities. Edman, Kim, Mookie—they all came through big.”
Now riding a modest two-game win streak, the Dodgers will look to build momentum as the homestand continues. With another game against the Cardinals on deck, they’ll likely turn to right-hander Bobby Miller, who’s coming off a dominant outing of his own. The Dodgers’ pitching depth is starting to assert itself, and the offense appears to be gelling into the potent unit many predicted it would be coming into the season.
For the Cardinals, the road trip doesn’t get any easier. While they’ll get another crack at the Dodgers tomorrow, they’ll need to make adjustments quickly if they want to avoid dropping another game. The offense has yet to consistently find its rhythm, and the pitching staff, while talented, has shown some early vulnerabilities.
Still, the night belonged to Los Angeles. Between Kershaw’s vintage effort, Betts’ fireworks, and the emergence of Kim and Edman as key contributors, the Dodgers looked every bit the contender they were built to be. If they continue to get this kind of production across the board, they’ll be a tough team to beat as the season progresses.
One game in April doesn’t define a season, but it can certainly help set a tone. On this night, the Dodgers looked like a team that’s starting to find its groove, and the rest of the league would do well to take notice.
