Opening Day part 2 got off to a great start for the Cardinals as they faced the defending National League Champion Colorado Rockies, with new starter Kyle Lohse and the bullpen pitching well through 7 innings and catcher Yadier Molina hitting a solo home run in the 5th inning to get the Cards off to a 1-0 lead through seven Unfortunately, that came to an end in the 8th as the Rockies scored 2 runs to take a 2-1 lead which would hold up as the final score, dropping the Cardinals to 0-1 on the young season.
Lohse, who signed as a free agent during spring training, went 5 scoreless innings in his St. Louis debut. Reliever Ryan Franklin took the loss for the Cards as he gave up 2 runs in the top of the eighth. Franklin allowed two hits, then forced Matt Holliday to ground to third, but an errant throw allowed a runner to score. Randy Flores came in and struck out the first two batters he faced, then walked home the go-ahead run. Meanwhile Rockies pitcher Taylor Buchholz took the win after relieving former Cardinal pitcher Kip Wells, who gave up only three hits and one run through 5 1/3 innings.
The Cardinals will try again to get win number one tomorrow night as they take on the Rockies at 7:15pm, with Todd Wellemeyer scheduled to make the start against Aaron Cook.
