Cardinals Come Out Swinging: David Freese and Kyle Loshe Work Win in Miami

Players of the Day for Wednesday, April 4, 2012

National League

Freese: 3-4, 2 RBI

The world champion St. Louis Cardinals picked up right where they left off last season, winning the opening game of the National League season with a 4-1 win over Miami, spoiling the Marlins' christening of their new stadium.

Lohse: 7.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER

David Freese staked starter Kyle Lohse to a 2-0, first inning lead, and went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored to pace the Cardinal attack.

Lohse worked a no-hitter into the seventh inning, spoiled by a leadoff Jose Reyes single, but worked into the eighth, leaving the game with a man aboard and one out after fanning Marlin catcher, Gaby Sanchez. Fernando Salas surrendered a two out double that scored Lohse's responsibility for the only Miami run of the game. Lohse finished with 7 1/3 innings pitched, allowing two hits and an earned run for the first win of 2012.

Freese, the MVP of last year's World Series continued his hot batting into the new season. Lohse received the start for the opener due to a nerve injury to Cards' ace Chris Carpenter, who is out indefinitely.