Dodgers Win Sixth Straight Game, Take Over 1st Place in N.L. West

Enrique Hernandez drove in three runs, Chase Utley was three for four, and Chris Taylor scored three runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4 in St. Louis on May 30th for the Dodgers’ sixth win in a row. Los Angeles (33-20) has won eight of 10, and with the victory and the Colorado Rockies loss at Seattle, the Dodgers have taken over 1st place in the National League West.

Los Angeles has moved into 1st despite missing third baseman Justin Turner, who is hitting.379 in 39 games this season. Turner went on the 10 day disabled list with a hamstring issue May 19th, and was leading the National League in hitting at the time. He will do a minor league rehab and should be back in the lineup soon. Besides Turner, the pitching staff, particularly the starters, has been bitten by the injury bug. Alex Wood is 6-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 10 games (8 starts) and went on the disabled list May 27th, but is only expected to miss one start. Brandon McCarthy (5-1 in eight starts) is day to day but also expected back soon. Clayton Kershaw is fine and putting up some of his usual umbers: 7-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched.

Besides Colorado, the Dodgers are trying to stay ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are 32-22 and just a game and a half back in third place. Colorado is half a game back at 33-21 going into games of May 31st.

Here’s a look at the highlights from the Dodgers’ Memorial Day victory, also against the Cardinals. The Dodgers hit three home runs on the way to a 5-1 win.