LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ross Stripling earned his first victory in his seventh major league start by beating his former college roommate, Yasiel Puig homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4 Friday night in the series opener. Stripling (1-2) allowed four runs and eight hits in five-plus innings, struck out two and walked three.

He had two wild pitches, including one that led to a run in the sixth. Stripling avoided being the first Dodgers pitcher to go winless in his first seven-plus starts since Clayton Kershaw in 2008. He squared off against Michael Wacha, his former teammate at Texas A&M. Kenley Jansen retired two batters in the ninth to earn his 12th save.

Wacha (2-4) gave up six runs — two earned — and eight hits in four innings, struck out two and walked three.