Clayton Kershaw threw six scoreless innings as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers edged the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 Sunday.

In the rubber game of a three-game series, Kershaw (2-2) held the Cardinals to four hits and a walk in his fifth start since recovering from shoulder surgery. He struck out two.

Michael Kopech closed out the victory to earn his 11th save.

Shohei Ohtanti hit his National League-leading 39th homer for the Dodgers, who won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Lars Nootbaar homered for the Cardinals, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

St. Louis starter Sonny Gray (11-8) allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out six.

Gray received defensive help to get out of the first inning unscathed. After Gavin Lux hit a two-out double, center fielder Victor Scott II made a lunging catch of Teoscar Hernadez’s fly ball while crashing into the wall.

The Dodgers threatened again in the second. Miguel Rojas (3-for-4, RBI) hit a leadoff single and Austin Barnes drew a two-out walk, but Gray struck out Nick Ahmed.

Gray dodged trouble again in the third. Mookie Betts hit a one-out single and went to third on Lux’s double. Hernandez walked to load the bases, but Rojas grounded into a double play.

Ohtani’s homer broke the scoreless tie in the fifth. Then Betts walked, went to third on Lux’s single and scored on Rojas’ two-out single to put the Dodgers up 2-0.

Gray finally escaped the inning by striking out Kevin Kiermaier.

Kershaw cruised through the first five innings on just 57 pitches while allowing just two hits.

Pedro Pages and Scott hit singles to begin the sixth for the Cardinals. But Masyn Winn flew out and Wilson Contreras grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Nootbaar’s pinch-hit homer in the eighth off Daniel Hudson cut the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1.

–Field Level Media