The Cardinals scored in bunches on Thursday to top the Dodgers 10-3 and to take three-of-four in the home series. L.A. took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Milton Bradly hit a solo home run off Chris Carpenter and Paul Bako drovei n another run with a single to score Hee Seop Choi.

St. Louis responded in the third inning with a five runs explosion. Larry Walker drove in a run with a single for the Cardinals’ first score of the game and David Eckstein scored later in the inning on a throwing error by former Cardinal outfielder J.D. Drew. Jim Edmonds singled to score Walker and Albert Pujols to give the Cardinals a 4-2 advantage. They never trailed again.

Yadier Molina returned from the disabled list with three hits and an RBI. John Mabry and Jim Edmonds drove in two apiece, while Eckstein went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.

Chris Carpenter went seen innings to earn his fifth win of the season. He allowed eight hits and three walks, but surrendered just two earned runs, while striking out eight. Rookie reliever Brad Thompson shut down the last six batters of the ball game in his second appearance.