A late Matt Holliday home run broke a 2-2 deadlock and brought the St. Louis Cardinals to the precipice of an opening day win against the San Diego Padres, but closer Ryan Franklin blew his first save opportunity of the year and new shortstop Ryan Theriot was part of a crucial defensive gaffe on the way to a 5-3 loss. Colby Rasmus tripled in the losing effort; Lance Berkman picked up two hits in his Cardinals debut.
Chris Carpenter, taking the opening day start, allowed two runs in seven solid innings, striking out four and walking two. He was pulled in favor of Miguel Batista, whose place in the bullpen is apparently a little higher up the food chain than we in the internet punditry business had guessed or hoped. After Trever Miller helped the Cardinals escape from that strange eighth inning decision, Ryan Franklin’s first-pitch curveball with two outs in the ninth hit the wrong part of Cameron Maybin’s bat and then the wrong part of the outfield batter’s eye, unceremoniously retying the game.
The game’s other new Cardinal was Brian Tallet, who pitched a scoreless 10th while earning two strikeouts.