CINCINNATI: Paul Goldschmidt and newcomer Nolan Arenado mixed for six hits in a boosted St. Louis lineup, and the Cardinals roughed up Luis Castillo for six runs within the first inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 11-6 Thursday in a cold opener.
With snow flurries and a sport time temperature of 37 levels, the Cardinals scored all their runs within the first 4 innings. Dylan Carlson hit a three-run homer and Tyler O’Neill related for a two-run shot.
St. Louis starter Jack Flaherty couldn’t reap the benefits of the large lead, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Reliever Giovanny Gallegos (1-0), the fourth of 5 Cardinals relievers, received the win.
Castillo (0-1) had a foul day nearly from the beginning. He surrendered 10 runs, eight of them earned, on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Goldschmidt, who had 4 hits and scored thrice, doubled with one out within the first and Arenado, the star third baseman acquired in an offseason commerce from Colorado, adopted with a single.
An error by shortstop Eugenio Surez, who was moved over from third base in spring coaching, let two runs rating and Carlson homered to cap the burst.
Singles by Goldschmidt and Arenado and one other error by Surez led to a different run within the second.
The Cardinals added 4 extra within the fourth on an RBI single by Goldschmidt, a wild pitch and O’Neill’s drive.
The Reds chipped away however couldn’t rating runs in bunches. Down 11-6 within the sixth, they loaded the bases with one out. But Nick Castellanos’ liner to middle fielder was snagged by Carlson, who doubled off Tyler Stephenson at second base.
BUNDLED UP
A sold-out crowd of about 12,000 socially distanced individuals braved the frigid circumstances for the primary sport at Great American Ball Park with followers in 18 months.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: OF Harrison Bader (proper forearm), RHP Dakota Hudson (elbow), LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (again) and RHP Miles Mikolas (proper shoulder) began the season on the 10-day disabled record.
Reds: CF Nick Senzel injured his left shoulder making a terrific diving catch of Arrenado’s liner within the fourth inning. Tyler Naquin pitch-hit for him within the backside of the inning after which changed him within the subject. OF Shogo Akiyama (hamstring), RHP Sonny Gray (again) and RHP Michael Lorenzen (shoulder) are on the 10-day disabled record retroactive to March 29.
UP NEXT
After an off day, the Cardinals will ship RHP Adam Wainwright to the mound towards RHP Tyler Mahle on Saturday afternoon.
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