In a dazzling display of offensive firepower, Jordan Walker put on a hitting clinic as the St. Louis Cardinals toppled the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers 7-3 on Friday night. Walker went a perfect 4-for-4, lacing two doubles and driving in two runs to boost his season average to an impressive .308. He also crossed the plate twice, leading the Cardinals to their fourth straight win and snapping a three-game home losing streak.

The Cardinals jumped on Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan early, scoring four runs on eight hits in his 5⅔ innings of work. Nolan Gorman launched a two-run homer, and Alec Burleson added a solo shot to power the St. Louis offense. Iván Herrera and Masyn Winn each contributed two hits, with Winn also wearing a pitch, as the Cardinals racked up 12 total hits.

On the mound, left-hander Matthew Liberatore (1-1) bounced back from his roughest outing of the season, allowing just two runs on four hits over 5⅔ innings. The Cardinals extended their lead in the seventh when Walker doubled off reliever Edgardo Henriquez to plate two runs, later scoring on a fielder's choice to make it 7-2.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, continued their slide with a third straight loss. Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani had a rare off night, going 0-for-5 with a strikeout. The series continues Saturday night, with Los Angeles right-hander Roki Saski (1-2, 6.35 ERA) set to face St. Louis righty Michael McGreevy (1-2, 2.97 ERA).