What a special day today was. Waino, Yadi, Pujols all back on the same roster for the first time since 2011.
Waino would deliver vintage Waino stuff, working a strong 6IP, while working his sinker in all parts of the zone to perfection. Waino would strikeout 6 Pirates along the way, with only two coming on the curveball.
The Cardinals bats would jump all over JT Brubaker in the first couple of innings to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead, getting a huge 3run HR from Tyler O’Neill in the bottom of the 2nd (his 4th rbi of the game, and all 4 Cardinals runs at the time).
Carlson got the game started with a double down the LF line, dropping in and dodging a diving Ke’Bryan Hayes’ glove. Hayes would hurt himself on the play, leaving the game in the 1st inning, a huge blow to the Pittsburgh lineup.
O’Neill would drive Carlson in two batters later with an rbi single back up the middle, deflecting off Park’s glove to make it 1-0 Cardinals.
O’Neill’s 3run HR in the bottom of the 2nd broke things open, as he stroked the Brubaker fastball to LF to make it a 4-0 Cardinals lead (104.6mph exit velocity, 396 feet). This was the third consecutive Opening Day that Tyler O’Neill has hit a HR in, truly an Opening Day God.
Wittgren, Cabrera, and Helsley would collectively pitch the final three innings, each working an inning a piece. Cabrera would strikeout two batters in his inning, while working around a couple of leadoff walks.
Wittgren and Helsley both worked 1-2-3 innings, with Wittgren getting an inning ending double play in the 7th and Helsley ending the game on 11 pitches in the 9th.
Edman (right-handed) and Arenado would both go yard off Fletcher in the bottom of the 8th, bringing the Cardinals lead to 9-0 heading into the 9th.
Mikolas takes on Keller Saturday afternoon at 1:15pm c/t, as the Cardinals look to start the season (2-0) while rocking those sexy Saturday Creams.
Happy Opening Day, fam. Enjoy every second of it!
Stew