The three losses the Cardinals misplaced in the late innings on the scoreboard took a backseat to the one loss on the field in the eighth inning.
An exuberant, whipsaw, and even historic opening day turn a deflating turn when catcher Willson Contreras took a fastball to the right knee and was unable to continue. In his absence, the Cardinals were able to still rally for another lead only to squander it in the ninth. The game’s third and final lead change after the seventh inning came against Cardinals’ All-Star closer Ryan Helsley.
George Springer’s fifth hit of the game tied the score in the top of the ninth, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.