Cardinals defeat Dodgers 9-5

LOS ANGELES -- Albert Pujols homered for the second time this season and Matt Holliday drove in three runs and scored twice as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 on Thursday night.

The Dodgers' second homestand of the season opened with a heavy security presence inside and outside the stadium, the result of a San Francisco Giants fan being severely beaten on opening day last month.

No one has been arrested despite the offer of more than $150,000 in reward money.

Hall of Fame broadcasters Vin Scully and Jaime Jarrin appeared on the stadium's videoboard with English and Spanish messages before the game urging fans to have a good time but respect those around them.

Los Angeles police didn't immediately have a tally but reported a few citations issued before the game. Inside the stadium, the announced crowd of 34,288 was low-key and many fans streamed out after the seventh inning stretch with the Dodgers trailing by six runs. Owner Frank McCourt's box was deserted by the eighth.

Jaime Garcia (2-0) allowed three runs -- two earned -- and five hits in five innings, struck out two and walked two. The left-hander had only allowed one run in his two previous starts.

Hiroki Kuroda (2-1) gave up 10 hits and six runs -- five earned -- in five innings, struck out three and walked none in the Dodgers' third straight loss. His three wild pitches were a career high.

Pujols sent a 3-2 pitch from Kuroda into the lower left field seats with one out in the fifth, extending the Cardinals' lead to 5-3. The slugger has gotten off to a slow start since this season and was 7 for 28 on the road trip before homering.

Holliday hit a two-run double in the seventh and had an RBI single in the third a night after going hitless for the first time this season. Every position player in the Cardinals' lineup had at least one hit as they won their second in a row.

Matt Kemp had two RBIs and three hits, including a homer in the ninth, and Jamey Carroll had three hits for the Dodgers, who also scored on a passed ball by Yadier Molina in the fourth.