BOSTON ( Associated Press) – Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer on the Green Monster in the first inning and the St. Louis Cardinals opened it up with a six-run victory over the Boston Red Sox in an 11-2 victory on Saturday night. ,
Nolan Gorman and Tyler O’Neill both had a single shot for the Cardinals, who bounced back after losing the three-match series opener. Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy Edman scored two runs each during the big innings.
“It’s the depth we talked about and a lot of people are putting it together at the right time,” said St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol. “Apart from giving people a day off, I think this is our best lineup.”
With recently elected Hall of Famer and 2013 World Series MVP David Ortiz sitting in the first row next to Boston’s dugout for the first five innings, the Red Sox lost just the fourth time in 16 games.
It broke the Cardinals’ five-game losing streak at Fenway Park — including the final game when Boston won the ’13 Series — and was their first win here since Game 2 on October 24, 2013.
Neil Diamond made a rare appearance to sing “Sweet Caroline” – a lead song in the middle of the eighth at Fenway.
Dakota Hudson (5-3) restricted Boston to two runs in five innings.
“I just knew I was going to try to give my team a chance to win and keep my head above the water, even though it wasn’t pretty,” Hudson said of their outing.
Arenado entered the first row of seats against Cutter Crawford (1–2). Gorman and O’Neill hit each of the center-field bleachers.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Arenado’s homer, “We get two outs, two quick outs, then a base hit and then a 3-2 cutter middle-middle, and they didn’t miss it.”
The Big Sinners were not around during St. Louis’ game-breaking innings when O’Neal hit home, and Goldschmidt and Edman collected their hits with an RBI single by Arenado.
“It was clearly a great run for us,” Gorman said of the sixth as he took two outs. “When you get a chance to bat two in an innings, it means your team is doing really well.”
Ortiz was part of a pregame presentation for Cardinals star Albert Pujols, who announced he was retiring at the end of the season. Big Puppy presented him with the number 5 from a manually operated monster scoreboard.
Pujols got a good hand when it came to pinch-hitting before being struck out in the eighth.
After coming in five shutout innings for his first major league win on his previous debut, Crawford conceded four runs in four innings.
Fenway Fun
The Cardinals had a sizable throng of fans – who chanted “Let’s go Cardinals!” broken into mantras. – who made the trip, the club’s second regular season trip to Fenway in 14 years and the first since 2017.
“I think it’s one of those places you look forward to coming to,” Marmol said.
small deal
The Red Sox acquired 28-year-old right-handed reliever James Norwood from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. He made 20 relief appearances for the Phillies this season, posting an 8.31 ERA.
“Good fastball, good split, good slider,” Cora said. “The numbers don’t represent one of that trickier weapons.”
instructor room
Cardinals: Corey Dickerson (left calf strained) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Thursday. “The calf needs to respond properly,” Marmol said before the game. “(He) felt a little bit of it in his last moments.”
Red Sox: Cora said lefty Chris Sells, who threw a two-innings mock game off the Fenway mound on Thursday, will do it another Monday. “The goal is to spread him as a starter,” Cora said. “Hands looking great, best I’ve seen her in a while.” … Cora also provided updates on three other pitchers: LHP Josh Tyre (lower back strain) bowled two innings from the mound, LHP James Paxton (recovering Tommy John surgery) and RHP Garrett Whitlock (right hip). Swelling) each threw in the bullpen .
next
RHP Andre Palante (2-1, 1.46 ERA) is set to come off the bullpen and start for the Cardinals in Sunday’s series finale. RHP Nick Pivetta (6-5, 3.50) is looking to continue his recent hot stretch for the Red Sox. He is 6-1 with 1.83 ERA in his last eight.
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