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Puig, Kershaw carry Dodgers past Cardinals

Jun 7, 2015 - 5:10 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Yasiel Puig returned to the Dodgers lineup after a lengthy stint on the disabled list and provided an immediate spark.

Puig doubled in the game's first run in the seventh inning, igniting a two-run frame that resulted in Los Angeles' 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

The Dodgers managed just three hits against southpaw Jaime Garcia (1-3) until the home seventh. Chris Heisey led off with a two-bagger to left, setting up Puig's bullet line drive to the wall in center. Heisey scored easily on the play, and Puig came around on Justin Turner's single that trickled into the outfield.

"It was a tough one," said Garcia. "I didn't execute some of my pitches. They were just better than us tonight."

Puig hadn't played since April 24, when he went on the DL with a hamstring injury.

Those runs were all the support necessary for Clayton Kershaw (5-3), who spun an absolute gem. Kershaw yielded just one hit and a walk over eight innings while striking out 11 batters.

"I was able to get quick outs," Kershaw said. "I threw strikes and hoped for the best. It was my best slider/curveball combination (of the season)."

The only hit against Kershaw came in the second inning, when Randal Grichuk slapped a single around three strikeouts.

Kenley Jansen replaced Kershaw for the ninth and induced a pair of pop ups for two quick outs. After security dealt with a fan that ran onto the field, Jansen settled in and struck out Matt Holliday to record his sixth save.

Game Notes

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter got hit with a pitch in the left elbow in the first inning and departed in the fourth with an elbow contusion ... The Dodgers optioned outfielder Scott Schebler to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for Puig ... This was Kershaw's fourth game with 10-plus strikeouts this season, tying him with Max Scherzer, Chris Sale and Corey Kluber for most in the majors.