Cardinals Clinch Season Series Over Dodgers

The St. Louis Cardinals clinched the season series against the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time since 2019, bolstered by late-game rallies and key defensive plays. Shohei Ohtani starred for the Dodgers with dominant pitching and his 1,000th career hit, a two-run homer, but the Cardinals tied the game in the eighth and took the lead on a Dodgers error. Cardinals relievers Leahy and Romero shut down the Dodgers following Matthew Liberatore's four-inning start. Lars Nootbaar made a game-saving catch in the ninth inning of the series opener, robbing Mookie Betts and preserving a crucial win. The Cardinals overcame injuries, poor recent series outcomes, and Ohtani's performance, using timely hitting and defense to strengthen their position in the NL playoff race. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed frustration after the Cardinals' late-game heroics secured the series.