PHOENIX — Three things the Cardinals have been waiting for all happened on Friday night, helping the Cardinals win the first game of their weekend series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.
The first came when Nolan Arenado launched his first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the first inning. The second came two innings later when Lars Nootbaar, making his season debut, hit a long two-run homer that increased the Cardinals’ lead to 6-0.
The Cardinals failed to hold that lead but then in the seventh, Paul Goldschmidt came through with a key hit, an RBI single following a triple by Brendan Donovan, to break the 6-6 tie and put the Cardinals back in front.
A two-run eighth provided a little more cushion to help the Cardinals secure the win and climb back to the .500 mark at 7-7 to begin the season.
Here is how Friday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: Every Cardinal starter had at least one hit in the 14-hit attack, led by three hits from Arenado. After his homer in the first he added singles in the seventh and ninth … Donovan also had three hits, scored twice and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly … Masyn Winn had two hits, incluring a run-scoring triple in the eighth, and scored twice … Victor Scott II contributed a double and a sacrifice fly.
On the mound: Staked to the 6-0 lead, Steven Matz could not get through the fifth inning, when the Diamondbacks scored all six of their runs. His own fielding error started the trouble for Matz, who allowed three hits and was charged with four of the Arizona runs in the inning, three of which were unearned … Giovanny Gallegos relieved and walked the first hitter he faced before giving up a three-run homer that tied the game … JoJo Romero, Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Helsley followed with a scoreless inning of relief, with Helsley earning his fifth save.
Key stat: Arenado hit his first homer since Aug. 19 of last year, ending a 39-game drought, the longest stretch of his career without a home run.
Worth noting: Three of the Cardinals top pitching prospects all turned in big starts on Friday night. At Double A Springfield, Tink Hence allowed one run on three hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. He has allowed one run in 10 innings in his first two starts. At Triple A Memphis, Gordon Graceffo allowed three hits over five scoreless innings, striking out seven while walking two. The best start was turned in by Quinn Mathews at Palm Beach. The 2023 draft pick allowed one hit in five shutout innings with no walks while recording 11 strikeouts.
Looking ahead: Kyle Gibson will get the start on Saturday night in the second game of the series against the Diamondbacks.