David Freese of the Pirates has gotten the first hit of the new Major League Baseball season and Pittsburgh pitcher Francisco Liriano has driven in the first run.
It was 39 degrees at PNC Park on Sunday when Liriano began the season by throwing a ball to St. Louis leadoff man Matt Carpenter.
Gregory Polanco doubled in the second inning and scored the first run on Liriano’s single.
Pittsburgh star Andrew McCutchen became the first runner this year when he was grazed by a pitch from Wainwright. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny lost the first replay challenge when it was ruled that McCutchen was nicked.
Matt Holliday of the Cardinals was the first strikeout victim.