Dodgers break through on road to beat Cardinals, 5-1

KEY MOMENT: The Dodgers’ first hit against Cardinals starter Michael Wacha didn’t come until the sixth inning, when Justin Turner doubled to right field. Turner advanced to third base on a wild pitch to Adrian Gonzalez, who was later struck by a pitch. With one out and runners on the corners, Howie Kendrick singled to right to drive in Turner and tie the score, 1-1. Two batters later, Yasmani Grandal homered off Wacha to move the Dodgers in front, 4-1. Grandal was activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list before the game.

AT THE PLATE: Kendrick’s run-scoring single ended a road scoreless streak of 42 innings for the Dodgers. The streak established an all-time franchise record, breaking the previous mark of 41 innings, set in 1908, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The streak was also the sixth-longest of all time by any team. The Dodgers were shut out in the series opener Friday night, as well as in the three-game series in San Francisco this month.

ON THE MOUND: Carlos Frias recovered from his worst start of the season with a dominant performance, as he limited the Cardinals to an unearned run over seven innings. He allowed only five hits and two walks. He also reached base with a seventh-inning bunt single for the first hit of his career. In his previous start, Frias was rocked by the San Diego Padres for 10 runs and 12 hits in four innings.

EXTRA BASES: Yasiel Puig could start a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week, Manager Don Mattingly said Saturday. “I feel like it’s going to be some time this coming week,” Mattingly said. “If I would guess, it would be later than earlier.” Puig has been on the disabled list since April 26 with a strained left hamstring. He played two games with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga this month, before his hamstring flared up again. Puig is working out at the Dodgers’ spring-training facility in Arizona. On Saturday, he took live batting practice against sidelined reliever Brandon League and ran curves. “I think Yasiel’s moving forward,” Mattingly said. … The start of the game was postponed by a two-hour, 20-minute rain delay.

UP NEXT: Brett Anderson (2-2, 3.47 ERA) will face the Cardinals and Carlos Martinez (4-2, 3.54) at Busch Stadium on Sunday at 11 a.m. PDT. TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020.