Buehler, a rookie like Flaherty, threw eight shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a pair of eighth-inning walks while striking out a career-high nine as the visiting Dodgers beat the Cardinals 3-0 before a sellout crowd of 46,036 to pull into a tie for the second NL wild-card spot.
The four-game series continues with games Saturday at 12:05 p.m. and Sunday at 7:05 p.m.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead with one out in the second when Puig fouled off several 3-2 pitches before shooting a line shot into the stands in left-center for his 17th homer of the season.