An eight run onslaught led the Cardinals to a 13-5 win over the Phillies on opening day Monday. Jim Edmonds’ double in the second and a solo home run by defending National League MVP Albert Pujols in the third gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. In the fourth, St. Louis exploded for the eight-spot to put the game out of reach.

The Cardinals sent 12 batters to the plate in the fourth inning, with four of them driving in runs. Aaron Miles, who won the second base job over Junior Spivey, tripled in So Taguchi and Yadier Molina to give St. Louis a 4-0 lead. Starting pitcher Chris Carpenter followed up with a single to score Miles. After David Eckstein and Juan Encarnacion hit back to back singles to load the bases, Albert Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Carpenter. That made it 6-0.

Jim Edmonds was the recipient of an intentional walk to reload the bases, then Scott Rolen came to the plate and blasted a grand slam to give the Cardinals a 9-0 lead. Rolen, who missed 56 games last season due to a shoulder injury, failed to homer in spring training. That gave the Cardinals a 10-0 advantage.

Carpenter, who won the National League Cy Young Award last season, lasted five innings and allowed four runs off nine hits to get the victory.

Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins kept his hitting streak alive with a double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Dating back to last season, Rollins has hit safely in 37-straight games. Ryan Howard, who one the N.L. Rookie of the Year Award last year, hit a solo home run. Howard is a St. Louis native and a Missouri St. alum.