By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The St. Louis Cardinals opened their season Monday with a lot of offense, routing the Philadelphia Phillies 13-5.
Slugger Albert Pujols homered twice for the Redbirds, but it was Scott Rolen's grand slame that stole the show. Rolen was playing in his first game since a season-ending injury last year.
In all, the Cardinals had 17 hits. Cy Young Awards winner Chris Carpenter got the win for the Redbirds. Jon Lieber was the losing pitcher.
The lone bright spot for the Phillies was Jimmy Rollins whose double in the eighth inning kept the majors' longest hitting streak alive. Rollins has now hit safely in 37 straight games; seven short of the National League record.
NEW BUSCH STADIUM
Meanwhile, Busch Stadium will make its debut tonight (Tuesday) when two of the Cardinals' minor league affiliates square off in an exhibition game at 6:10. The Memphis Redbirds will play the Springfield (Mo.) Cardinals; both teams are minor-league affiliates in the Redbirds' system.
The game is serving as a dress rehearsal, of sorts, to allow vendors, ushers, grounds crew, umpires, and the like to get acquainted with the new ballpark.