Yadier Molina watches his seventh inning homer leave the park. (MLB photos)

Yadier Molina watches his seventh inning homer leave the park. (MLB photos)

Yadier Molina’s home run in the seventh inning was the only run scored as the Cardinals picked up the victory on Opening Day in Cincinnati, shutting out the Reds, 1-0. It’s the first time the Reds have not scored on the first day of the season, since 1953.

Adam Wainwright for whatever reasons has always struggled against the Reds, (4-4 at Great American Ballpark) but on Monday, he had their number . Wainwright went seven innings, allowing three hits and four walks, while striking out nine. In total, Wainwright and four relievers combined for just those three hits and 12 strikeouts.

The Reds had opportunities thanks to shoddy defense. Newcomer Peter Bourjos dropped a fly ball in center landing Brayan Pena on second base with nobody out in the 5th. Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto bunted the ball back to Wainwright who caught Pena in between second and third for a fielder’s choice. Wainwright then struck out Billy Hamilton and Brandon Phillips.

The Reds gave away a run and perhaps the game after two blunders by the Cardinals were wiped away by bad baserunning and timely pitching. After Phillips walked, he made it to third on an error by Kolten Wong, who was moving to his right, just steps away from second which would have been an easy double play. Instead, the Reds had runners on the corners with no outs.

Jay Bruce tapped a ball to first baseman Matt Adams who was playing on the bag, who charged and caught Phillips in a rundown for the first out. With the tying run off third, reliever Carlos Martinez got Ryan Ludwick to ground into a sure double play, but Adams dropped the throw from second leaving runners on the corners again with two outs. Martinez struck out Todd Frazier ending the threat.

Trevor Rosenthal shut down the Reds in the ninth with two more strikeouts and his first save of the season.