Cardinals rout the Pirates on Opening Day

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMIZ)

The St. Louis Cardinals kicked off the regular season on a high note on Thursday, as the red birds dominated the Pirates in a 9-0 win.

The ball club celebrated the return of St. Louis great Albert Pujols. The slugger started what will be his final Opening Day as a Major League Baseball player alongside catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Adam Wainwright.

Pujols fought back tears in his first at-bat back in the Cardinals uniform, but ended up going 0-for-5 through the win. Wainwright pitched six scoreless innings through his final Opening Day start. The 40-year-old finished with six strikeouts and just five hits and no runs allowed.

But, Tyler O'Neill stole the show at Busch Stadium, as he hit a three-run home run and drove in a career-high five RBI.

Up next - St. Louis will continue the series with Pittsburgh on Saturday at 1:15 p.m.