(MLB.com) – A series that started with a bang — 11 of them — and continued with different-natured fireworks came to a sputtering finish on Sunday, when the Cardinals suffered a 12-1 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park to drop their first series of the season in unceremonious fashion.

An Opening Day victory showed much promise for the offense, but the concerns that may have been glossed over were re-exposed by the next two defeats. All told, Cardinals pitching conceded 27 runs over 25 innings in Cincinnati, receiving bursts of offense but not nearly enough to salvage the series on Easter Sunday.

Carlos Martínez looked like he was bound to buck that trend with three perfect innings, but a leak in the fourth was bludgeoned open in the fifth, kick-started by a pair of extra-base hits from Nick Castellanos, including a three-run shot in the fifth, to continue a torrid start to the year for St. Louis’ newest villain.

A pitching staff sans long-reliever Jake Woodford and flamethrower Jordan Hicks on Sunday didn’t recover from there, as Ryan Helsley continued an inauspicious start to the year with a pair of walks and four runs on his ledger before a disastrous sixth frame concluded. Three runs came off a homer conceded by Tyler Webb, who was called up for his third consecutive game to open the season.