Blue Jays open season with tough win in St. Louis

(St. Louis) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in three runs including the game-winning one on Thursday as the Toronto Blue Jays opened their season with a 10-9 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis.

George Springer knocked five times to safety, all singles. He had five hits for the fourth time in his career.

“That’s great,” Springer said. Of course, you want to start off on the right foot. It’s just one game, but I’m going to take all the hits I can. »

Adley Rutschman of the Orioles also had five hits in Boston.

Two players with five hits on Day 1 of a regular season, we hadn’t seen that since 1901.

Bo Bichette added three singles and a double, while Matt Chapman added three singles.

There were 19 hits for the visitors and 15 for the Cardinals.

“There were ups and downs,” Toronto team manager John Scheider said. But pretty much all of our players have had good at-bats. »

Springer scored the first point of the game on a double from Daulton Varsho.

“Our offense was great,” said Varsho, who also smacked a sacrifice fly. We never gave up. This is the kind of club we are. »

The Blue Jays won their season opener for the fourth straight season.

This time they came from behind 9-8 in the ninth, against Ryan Helsley (0-1).

Springer tied the score with a single and Guerrero followed it up with a sacrifice fly.

For the Cards, Tyler O’Neill homered in a season opener for the fourth straight season.

Receiver Willson Contreras left the field after the eighth inning with a knee injury.

Nolan Arenado produced three points, including two via a double against Yimi Garcia (1-0).

Jordan Romano collected the save. The last out was Lars Nootbar on strikes, using a slippery.

Alek Manoah allowed five runs and 11 hits in three and a third innings.

Miles Mikolas also racked up 10 outs, allowing five runs and 10 hits.

Earlier Thursday, the Blue Jays placed pitchers Hyun Jin Ryu and Mitch White on injured reserve.

Ryu’s name has been placed on the injured list for 15 days, retroactive to March 27, as he continues to recover from Tommy John-style surgery performed on June 18.

White was also placed on the 15-day disabled list, also retroactive to March 27, with inflammation in his right elbow.

Ryu, a left-handed pitcher, made six starts for the Blue Jays last season. He went 2-0 with a 5.67 GAA and 16 strikeouts.

The 36-year-old South Korean was pulled from a start against the Chicago White Sox on June 2 shortly after hitting the 1,000 career innings pitch mark. Damage to his ulnar collateral ligament was later noted.

White was destined to fill the role of fifth starter or be employed in long relief this season.

The 28-year-old White went 1-7 with the Blue Jays last year. His average was 5.45 and he had 78 strikeouts in 99 innings.