Arizona Diamondbacks Game Notes: This is Not The Reds

They finished with 14 hits last night and had Lance Lynn on the ropes a few times, but with the help of double play pitches (four on the night), Lynn and the bullpen held Arizona in check for a 5-3 victory. For game one against the Diamondbacks the Cardinals start Lance Lynn who has allowed 128 hits and 44 earned runs while striking out 143 over 134.2 innings for a 9-8 record and a 2.94 ERA.

Cincinnati also won thanks to one big inning, scoring 10 runs in the sixth ” four from Brandon Phillips hitting a homer and a triple ” to mount a comeback and beat Detroit 12-5. The St. Louis right-hander ended the third inning with a double play, then got Hill and Goldschmidt to do the same with the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth. The Cardinals allow 3.0 runs per game, but have damaged those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 4.4 runs per game during that span. The Cardinals have established a reputation of overwhelming hitters with an NL-best 8.1 strikeouts per game, making them one of the top five teams in the league.

The Cardinals broke open the game with a three-run seventh inning, with Yadier Molina diving in two with a single. Carpenter ended a 0-for-21 slide with a solo homer in the third inning and Chacin gave up an unearned run on a fielder’s choice in the sixth after an error by left fielder David Peralta. He struck out five and walked one.

Garcia’s aggressive baserunning proved crucial Monday as the Cardinals topped the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3.

Garcia had a throwing error in the second inning and another in the fifth, his first two of the season.

The Diamondbacks (62-62) won their previous four games, and they were attempting to get two games over. Welington Castillo hit a solo homer but flied out with the bases loaded in the seventh. Chip Hale indicated that he would use a spot starter at some point, and it comes tonight with Chacin taking Robbie Ray’s spot in the rotation. These two have hit the under in 11 of their last 13 meetings while the Astros have hit the under in their last 9 games as an underdog. Submarining reliever Brad Ziegler has converted on 21 straight save opportunities.

Chacin was a solid starter from 2010-2013, but he had a 5.40 ERA in 11 starts last season while dealing with shoulder issues and was cut loose by Colorado this spring after an bad showing during Cactus League action. St. Louis 2B Kolten Wong received a second consecutive start off, with Greg Garcia opening at second base. Arizona RHP Archie Bradley was activated from the disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Reno.