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Martinez, Cards top D-backs 5-3 in coldest St. Louis start

Sports

April 7th, 2018 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — In the coldest home start in Cardinals’ history, Jose Martinez homered and drove in four runs as St. Louis ended the Arizona Diamondbacks’ four-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory on Saturday. It was 37 degrees at gametime with a wind chill of 29. The previous recorded low in St. Louis was 37 degrees for the first pitch on April 16, 1961, against Cincinnati. Michael Wacha (1-1) outpitched Zack Greinke (1-1) despite matching a career high with five walks in the chilly weather. Four of Wacha’s passes came in the first two innings. Both starters went five innings. Dominic Leone and Matt Bowman each pitched a perfect inning of relief for the Cardinals and Jordan Hicks gave up an unearned run in the eighth. Bud Norris struck out the side to earn his first save of the season.

Martinez’s three-run homer capped a four-run third as the Cardinals took a 5-2 lead. Matt Carpenter drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly. Martinez also singled home a run in the first. His eight RBIs are a team high. Marcell Ozuna had three hits and Yadier Molina singled twice for St. Louis. Carpenter singled in the first and has reached safely in all eight of St. Louis’ games this season. A.J. Pollock’s single in the first gave Arizona an early lead. He doubled and scored on Chris Owings’ single in the third for a 2-1 lead.

The D-Backs and Red Birds face-off again Sunday afternoon at 1:15. We’ll have the action for you beginning at 12:20-p.m. with the pre-game show, on KJAN.