Nolan Arenado hit a three-run home run, and Paul Goldschmidt’s RBI single in the seventh inning helped the St. Louis Cardinals recover from squandering a six-run lead to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-6 on Friday night.
Lars Nootbaar, who returned from the injured list, added a two-run homer for the Cardinals after missing the first 13 games due to a left rib injury from spring training.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praised the team’s composure and mental focus despite the Diamondbacks’ comeback, emphasizing their ability to add runs and maintain momentum.
The Diamondbacks, after trailing 6-0, tied the game with six runs in the fifth inning, with Eugenio Suárez hitting a crucial three-run homer.
However, the Cardinals regained the lead 7-6 in the seventh inning when Goldschmidt’s single scored Brendan Donovan, who had a triple and finished with three hits.
St. Louis extended their lead to 9-6 in the eighth inning with an RBI triple from Masyn Winn and a sacrifice fly by Victor Scott II. Paul Goldschmidt noted the team’s resilience, stating they stayed focused despite being tied and continued to play their game.
Nootbaar hit a no-doubt home run in the third inning, and Arenado’s first homer of the season gave the Cardinals an early lead in the first inning.
Brandon Pfaadt, the Diamondbacks’ pitcher, gave up six runs over six innings, while Joe Mantiply took the loss in relief.
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen struggled, conceding three runs over three innings, prompting manager Torey Lovullo to express confidence in their ability to bounce back.
Steven Matz, the Cardinals’ left-hander, allowed four runs, with only one earned, over 4 2/3 innings, with errors contributing to the Diamondbacks’ runs in the fifth inning. Giovanny Gallegos earned the win for the Cardinals, conceding two runs over 1 1/3 innings.
