RetroSimba

(Updated March 29, 2019)

The Cardinals in 2019 opened a season in March for the sixth time. The March 28 game against the Brewers at Milwaukee was the earliest date for a Cardinals regular-season opener.

The Cardinals won three of their six Opening Day games played in March. Here is a look at each:

March 31, 1998

Todd Stottlemyre pitched seven scoreless innings and Mark McGwire hit a grand slam in the fifth, carrying the Cardinals to a 6-0 victory over the Dodgers at St. Louis.

Stottlemyre limited the Dodgers to three hits, including two by rookie first baseman Paul Konerko. “I was trying to stay away from all the nervousness and the other things that go into Opening Day,” Stottlemyre told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “… Your gut is going all different directions.”

McGwire’s home run was the first grand slam hit by a Cardinals player in an Opening Day game. He connected on a changeup from Ramon Martinez, breaking a scoreless tie. “I was juiced up,” McGwire said. “I don’t know my own strength. I hope I don’t hurt anybody.”

Gary Gaetti and Willie McGee each produced a RBI-single in the eighth.

Braden Looper, making his major-league debut for the Cardinals, pitched the ninth and struck out Todd Zeile, Raul Mondesi and Konerko. “It’s amazing to see the command of his pitches,” McGwire said of Looper. “He basically doesn’t throw anything over the belt.” Boxscore

March 31, 2003

Scott Rolen hit a three-run home run, capping a six-run eighth inning, and the Cardinals held on for an 11-9 triumph over the Brewers at St. Louis.

Trailing 7-5 in the eighth, the Cardinals got a RBI-triple from Orlando Palmeiro and a RBI-double from Fernando Vina, tying the score. Kerry Robinson put the Cardinals ahead, 8-7, with a bunt single that scored Vina from third. After Robinson swiped second and Albert Pujols was walked intentionally, Rolen, playing in his first Cardinals season opener, hit a home run against Mike DeJean, giving the Cardinals an 11-7 lead.

The Cardinals needed the cushion Rolen provided. In the ninth, Richie Sexson hit a two-run home run against Cal Eldred. After Keith Ginter singled with one out, Steve Kline relieved and retired Jeffrey Hammonds and Wes Helms, sealing the win for St. Louis. Boxscore

“That was an ugly game,” Rolen said. “That’s not a game that you’re going to come out on top all the time.”

March 31, 2011

Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin blew a ninth-inning save opportunity and the Padres went on to win, 5-3, in 11 innings at St. Louis. It was the Cardinals’ first extra-inning opener since 1992.

After Matt Holliday hit a home run in the eighth against Mike Adams, giving the Cardinals a 3-2 lead, manager Tony La Russa brought in Franklin to pitch the ninth. Franklin retired the first two batters, Ryan Ludwick and Chase Headley, but Cameron Maybin swung at Franklin’s first pitch to him, a curveball, and launched it over the wall for a home run, tying the score.

Franklin described his pitch to Maybin as “a good, first-pitch strike.”

Said Maybin: “I got a pitch I recognized early out of his hand. If it’s in my zone, I’m going to attack it.”

In the 11th, Bryan Augenstein, making his Cardinals debut, gave up two runs after retiring the first two batters. The Cardinals were retired in order by Heath Bell in the bottom half of the inning.

“It was 11 innings of baseball that seemed like 111,” wrote columnist Bernie Miklasz. Boxscore

March 31, 2014

Adam Wainwright pitched seven shutout innings, the bullpen escaped an eighth-inning jam and Yadier Molina delivered the lone run, a home run against Johnny Cueto, lifting the Cardinals to a 1-0 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati.

Wainwright held the Reds to three hits, struck out nine and earned the first Opening Day win of his career. “I’ve never had this much fun pitching,” he said. “I’ve never felt as good about where I’m at.”

Molina hit a cutter from Cueto over the left field wall in the seventh inning. He also made several stellar defensive plays and clicked with Wainwright on calling pitches. “We were on the same page from the very first pitch of the game,” Wainwright said. “… I really think he’s the best I’ve ever seen at that position.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer declared, “Yadier Molina is Public Enemy No. 1 in Cincinnati and the Cardinals’ all-star catcher further endeared himself to Reds fans by ruining their 2014 Opening Day.”

In the eighth, after Wainwright departed, the Reds put runners on first and third, with no one out, but Kevin Siegrist and Carlos Martinez kept the Reds from scoring. Trevor Rosenthal pitched a perfect ninth, marking the first time the Reds had been shut out on Opening Day since 1953 against the Braves. Boxscore

March 29, 2018

Cardinals pitchers yielded nine walks, Cardinals batters struck out 15 times and the Mets won, 9-4, at New York. Yoenis Cespedes had three RBI for the Mets.

Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run for the Cardinals and his teammate, Jose Martinez, contributed three hits, including a home run, and two RBI.

The Cardinals outfield of Marcell Ozuna, Tommy Pham and Dexter Fowler went hitless in 12 at-bats, with eight strikeouts. Boxscore

“We never got in rhythm,” Molina said.

March 28, 2019

Starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin hit a home run and got the win in a 5-4 Brewers victory at Milwaukee. Christian Yelich hit a three-run home run for the Brewers.

The Cardinals got two home runs from Kolten Wong and a homer from Harrison Bader, but the top six batters in the order went 1-for-22. Cardinals batters also struck out 11 times.

With two outs in the ninth, Jose Martinez of the Cardinals drove a pitch to deep right-center, but center fielder Lorenzo Cain reached over the wall and caught the ball. “We all thought it was gone and Cain made a hell of a play,” Wong said. Boxscore