Rasmus
Pujols
Molina
The Cardinals confirmed many of my thoughts from Sunday’s post regarding their needs and their chances on Opening Day today.
They won, 11 – 6. Albert went 4 for 5 with two home runs and 3 RBIs. Yadier Molina, not looking as though he spent two weeks on the DL, was 3 for 4 with a grand-slam in the 5-run 9th inning, and late explosion the team really needed, because Ryan Franklin picked up where he left off from 2009 and allowed 2 runs in the bottom of the inning. The relief corps allowed 6 hits and 4 runs in 3 innings. THAT is cause for worry, even this early.
Colby Rasmus, who the Cards need to have a stellar sophomore year, went 2 for 4, homered and collected 2 RBIs, and just as important, he caught Scott Rolen’s fly ball at the fence in the 6th, saving what would have been Rolen’s 2nd homer of the game.
Chris Carpenter was adequate – 6 innings, 5 hits (two of them solo homers, in the same inning), 3 Ks and no walks. Not his best stuff, certainly, but enough to win.
David Freese and Skip Schumaker both rang up errors, and they went a collective 1 for 1 for 9, although Freese collected an RBI. Matt Holliday went 1 for 4.
Later,
Scaypgrayce 