BOSTON (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer over the Green Monster in the first inning and the St. Louis Cardinals broke it open with a six-run sixth in an 11-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.
Nolan Gorman and Tyler O’Neill both had a solo shot for the Cardinals, who rebounded after losing the opener of the three-game series. Paul Goldschmidt and Tommy Edman each had a two-run single during the big inning.
“This is the depth that we talked about and a lot of guys are putting it together at the right time,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “Outside of giving guys a day off, I think that’s our best lineup.”
With recently elected Hall of Famer and 2013 World Series MVP David Ortiz seated in the first row next to Boston’s dugout for the first five innings, the Red Sox lost for just the fourth time in 16 games.
It snapped the Cardinals’ five-game losing streak in Fenway Park — including the final game when Boston won the ’13 Series — and was their first win here since Game 2 on Oct. 24, 2013.
Neil Diamond made a rare appearance to sing “Sweet Caroline” — a staple song in the middle of the eighth at Fenway.
Dakota Hudson (5-3) held Boston to two runs in five innings.
“I just knew I was trying to hang on and keep my head above water, trying to give our team a chance to win, even though it wasn’t pretty,” Hudson said of his outing, which included five walks.
Arenado homered into the first row of seats against Kutter Crawford (1-2). Gorman and O’Neill each hit theirs into the center-field bleachers.
“We get two outs, two quick outs, then the base hit and then the 3-2 cutter middle-middle, and he didn’t miss it,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Arenado’s homer.
Big Papi wasn’t around during St….