An early display of force and panache by one of the top lineups in the National League was too much for even the Cardinals' steady, pesky lineup to keep pace.
Atlanta hammered three home runs in the first two innings to create a gap the Cardinals only threatened to close. The first National League foe to visit St. Louis this season sprinkled in a few runs late to salt an 8-4 victory Monday night at Busch Stadium.
The sunny, successful spring that ushered Jake Woodford into the rotation met the cold shock of the regular season when seven of the first 10 batters he faced reached base with a hit.