Cardinals score six in first while beating Reds

[April 02, 2021]    Dylan Carlson's three-run homer highlighted a six-run first inning, and Paul Goldschmidt had four hits as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals recorded an 11-6 season-opening win over the Cincinnati Reds on a chilly Thursday.

Nolan Arenado had two hits with an RBI in his team debut and Tyler O'Neill belted a two-run shot as the Cardinals battered Cincinnati starter Luis Castillo for 10 runs (eight earned) with eight hits over 3 1/3 innings. St. Louis scored double-digit runs just twice in 2020.

St. Louis Cardinals closing pitcher Alex Reyes (29) reacts with catcher Yadier Molina (4) after the Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty allowed six runs and homers to Nick Castellanos (three hits) and Eugenio Suarez over 4 1/3 innings. Giovanny Gallegos, who struck out two in a perfect eighth inning outing, was credited with the victory.

St. Louis didn't waste any time getting on the board to open the season. Goldschmidt doubled off the right-field wall, Arenado singled in his first St. Louis at-bat and Paul DeJong delivered an opposite-field RBI single.

Things only got worse for Castillo as the opening inning went on. Moved from third base to shortstop, Suarez failed to glove a Yadier Molina grounder with the bases loaded that resulted in a two-run error. Carlson immediately followed with his shot off the right-field foul pole to give the Cardinals the early 6-0 cushion.

Cincinnati got a run back in the bottom of the first after Jesse Winker (two hits) doubled and later scored on a wild pitch. However, Arenado gave the Cardinals' their six-run edge back with an RBI single in the second.

Castellanos' two-run homer to deep left field made it 7-3 after three innings. St. Louis, though, got those runs right back -- and more -- in the fourth when Goldschmidt delivered a run-scoring single and Tommy Edman scored on a wild pitch. After Castillo exited without recording a strikeout, O'Neill went deep off Cam Bedrosian to give the Cardinals an 11-3 lead.

Suarez knocked a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. Joey Votto's single and Mike Moustakas' sacrifice fly in the fifth got the Reds within five runs.

Cincinnati center-fielder Nick Senzel left after he injured his shoulder making a diving catch in the fourth.

--Field Level Media

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