In an intense National League showdown on August 4, 2025, the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers opened a critical three-game series at Dodger Stadium with a tightly contested matchup. Both teams, with playoff ambitions in sight, showcased stellar pitching, timely power, and disciplined defense in what turned out to be a nail-biting encounter.

The game finished with a final score of 1–1 through the 7th inning before heading into late-inning drama, underscoring just how evenly matched these two squads are.

A Pitching Battle from the Start

The Cardinals sent veteran Sonny Gray to the mound, hoping he could bounce back from recent struggles. Gray entered the game with a 10–5 record and a 4.38 ERA, but had given up a concerning 30 hits in his last 13.1 innings. On the other side, the Dodgers countered with flame-throwing right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who has quietly become one of the most reliable arms in the Dodgers rotation this season.

From the first pitch, both pitchers were in command. Glasnow struck out four batters in five innings while allowing only three hits and one earned run. Gray, determined to silence critics, allowed just one run on three hits of his own over five strong innings.

Solo Shots Light Up the Scoreboard

The game’s first run came courtesy of Masyn Winn, the Cardinals’ rising star. In the top of the second inning, Winn connected on a fastball from Glasnow and launched a towering solo homer into the left-field seats, putting St. Louis up 1–0 early.

The lead didn’t last long, however. In the bottom of the fourth, Freddie Freeman responded with power of his own. With two outs and nobody on, Freeman crushed a solo home run to deep right-center, tying the game at 1–1 and electrifying the home crowd at Dodger Stadium.

Those two home runs turned out to be the only runs either team could muster through seven innings of play. Defense and pitching dominated the rest of the contest.

Defensive Execution & Missed Opportunities

Although both teams managed to get runners on base throughout the middle innings, clutch defense kept the scoreboard from moving. Cardinals center fielder Dylan Carlson made a spectacular diving catch to save a potential extra-base hit in the fifth, while Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts turned a smooth double play in the sixth to snuff out a mini rally.

The Dodgers had a prime scoring chance in the bottom of the seventh, with runners on first and third and just one out. But Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos came in and induced a clutch double play to escape unscathed.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, were unable to take advantage of a leadoff walk in the top of the eighth, as Dodgers reliever Ryan Brasier struck out two and forced a flyout to strand the runner.

What This Game Means

Both teams are locked in competitive races within their divisions. The Cardinals came into this series hovering near .500, trying to climb the National League Central standings. The Dodgers, on the other hand, are leading the NL West but feel pressure from the surging Padres.

For the Cardinals, the performance by Sonny Gray was encouraging. After a rocky July, showing control and command against one of MLB’s most dangerous lineups gives hope for the rest of August.

For the Dodgers, the takeaway is consistency. Even with Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts quiet at the plate, they found ways to stay in the game. Freeman’s homer proved again that he remains the team’s most reliable bat under pressure.

Looking Ahead

This series is far from over. Game 2 will feature another exciting pitching duel and could provide clarity on playoff potential for both squads. With the series tied, both managers will likely shuffle their bullpens to maintain freshness for what promises to be a hard-fought stretch run.

The Cardinals will need to get their offense going early in Game 2 if they hope to pull off a series win. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are looking to tighten their grip on the division and remind the league why they’re World Series favorites.