After winning three of four from the Chicago Cubs at historic Wrigley but losing two of three to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, including the final two games, Dodgers right-hander Dustin May and a nearly perfect performance by a recently struggling Dodgers bullpen put the Dodgers back in the win column on Friday night with a dominant 7-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in front of a cheerful Dodger Stadium crowd of 43,138.

The 25-year-old Justin, TX native and Dodgers third round draft pick in 2016 out of Northwest High School in Justin allowed two runs on three hits while walking and striking out four in his short-but-effective five innings of work on Fireworks Friday Night at The Ravine.

“I would definitely like to get more than five in a game, but at that point in time, I had wasted a lot of throws throwing a lot of balls, so it was good through five and help the guys out,” May told reporters after his third win of the season.

St. Louis got on the board quick, scoring two runs off of May in his 25-pitch first inning, but the Dodgers tied the game up 2-2 in their half of the first on a leadoff home run by Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who just rejoined the team following paternity leave. They added another run on a RBI single by Dodgers right fielder Jason Heyward. The 33-year-old/14-year MLB veteran also hit a RBI doubled in the bottom of the third, as did hot-hitting Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy.

The Dodgers added one more in the fifth on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch of struggling Dodgers outfielder James Outman, who struck out in his three other plate appearances on Friday night. They then added two more in their half of the seventh on a two-run home run by Dodgers second baseman Miguel Vargas, his first of the season.

A very efficient Dodgers bullpen behind left-hander Caleb Ferguson, right-hander Shelby Miller, left-hander Victor González, right-hander Brusdar Graterol, and right-hander Shawn Miller kept the Cards off the board until struggling Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia allowed a run if the top of the ninth. The 27-year-old Alpine, CA native walked a batter and gave up two singles, allowing a run. He did strike out two in his one inning of relief, including the final Cardinals batter of the game, so there’s that. Vesia’s ERA is now a team-worst 9.35.

Play Ball!

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