(St. Louis) Jack Flaherty survived a career-high seven walks and one batter with no hits for five innings and the St. Louis Cardinals scored three unearned runs in the third inning for the win 4-1 over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

It was the Cardinals’ first win this season.

“Seven walks is not a good way to throw,” Flaherty said. It’s not something that will work for a long time. I was able to get away with it today. »

Flaherty (1-0), plagued by shoulder problems that kept him out of play for most of last season, had just one clear round, his last.

Facing the Blue Jays for the first time in his career, he struck out four batters and took advantage of a double play in the second inning, started by third baseman Nolan Arenado at the expense of George Springer.

“Probably I shouldn’t have been rewarded today, depending on how I pitched,” Flaherty added.

Flaherty has made catches on 49 of his 95 shots.

“I’m proud of him,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of his starter. I think we took a big step in the right direction today to keep our cool and figure out how to make an adjustment rather than snowball. This game could have gotten really awful in a snap and he didn’t let that happen. »

The Torontonians had three hits, after collecting 16 singles in their season opener.

“It’s weird because you’re sitting and waiting, and you’re still waiting, and you need someone to hit a hit,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. We didn’t get it today, but I thought our approach was good. »

Facing Andre Pallante, the Cardinals’ third of five pitchers, Kevin Kiermaier hit a single out of reach for second baseman Brendan Donovan, after an out in the seventh. Kiermaier also singled in the ninth and Bo Bichette singled against Ryan Helsley in the same inning.

A two-run single from Nolan Gorman made it 3-0. Gausman, who is 1-5 against the Cardinals, allowed eight singles in six innings of work but failed to allow an earned run.

Helsley, the National’s star player in 2022 and who suffered the loss on the opening day of the season, managed a five-out save.