The Cardinals blew one-run leads in three straight innings during a 10-9 Opening Day loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Busch Stadium. Andre Pallante blew a 6-5 lead in the seventh, Jordan Hicks gave up a 7-6 lead in the eighth, and Ryan Helsley was tagged with the loss after surrendering a 9-8 lead in the ninth. Tyler O’Neill and Brendan Donovan both went deep in the losing effort, while Nolan Arenado drove in three runs.
It is the fourth straight opening day home run from O’Neill who joins Yogi Berra, Gary Carter and Todd Hundley (all catchers) who have accomplished that feat.
Catcher Willson Contreras left after taking a wild pitch from Hicks off his knee in the eighth inning. He is scheduled for an MRI.
The Cardinals are off today, and they send Jack Flaherty to the rubber against the Blue Jays tomorrow.
