Cardinals first basemen Albert Pujols hit two home runs, including a solo shot in his first at-bat of the season. Colby Rasmus homered and Yadier Molina hit a grand slam in a five run ninth inning as the Cardinals open with an 11-6 win.
Pujols first home run was a solo blast to straight away center field. He then added a two run shot in the fourth after Brendan Ryan reached base, the second of three homers allowed by Reds’ starter Aaron Harang (0-1). After the Reds hit two solo shots of Cardinals’ starter Chris Carpenter, one by Joey Votto and the other from former Redbird Scott Rolen, Colby Rasmus pounded an inside fastball deep to right to make it a 5-2 game.
Carpenter (1-0) finished with six innings and just those two runs on five hits. The Reds tried to chip away at the lead, trailing 6-4 in the ninth, when St. Louis blew the game open with five runs in the last inning.
Colby Rasmus singled home Pujols who singled earlier in the inning. An intentional walk with one out later loaded the bases and Molina cleared the bases with a home run to right field off of Nick Masset. The Reds added two more runs in the bottom of the ninth as Jason Motte, Kyle McClellan and Ryan Franklin all gave up runs in relief work.
Pujols was 4 for 5 with three RBI and four runs scored. Molina drove in four and Rasmus two.
