David Freese and the Cardinals are picking up right where they left off last October when the club won its 11th World Series title. Freese went 2 for 3, including his third homer of the season and drove in two runs as the Cardinals got past Cincinnati 3-1.
Freese is now hitting 12 of 27 for a .444 average and has three homers and 10 RBI in the first six games. Carlos Beltran also homered for the third time this season. Beltran gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, homering off Reds starter Mike Leake in the top of the first. Freese’s homer was a two run shot that came in the sixth increasing the lead to 3-0 against Leake.
Meanwhile Kyle Lohse gave up a sac fly RBI to Joey Votto in the bottom of the sixth after Zack Cozart led off with a triple. It was Lohse’s only run allowed as he worked six innings, giving up four hits and a walk.
Mitchell Boggs pitched two innings and Jason Motte pitched the ninth for the save.
