Nootbaar returns, Cardinals rout Reds 10-3

Alec Burleson homered and scored four runs, Lars Nootbaar added two hits and an RBI in his season debut and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-3 on Friday night.

Nootbaar had surgery on both heels in October. Batting leadoff, he singled in his first at-bat. His RBI double started a six-run sixth.

After the Reds scored three runs in the first, St. Louis reeled off 10 straight runs. Eight Cardinals drove in a run.

Hunter Dobbins (1-0) pitched the final five innings in relief of starter Kyle Leahy.

Brady Singer (2-6) threw 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.

Jordan Walker, who had three hits, drove in a run with a RBI double to center off reliever Brock Burke in the fifth to make it 4-3.

Burleson led off the third with a home run into the right-field bullpen.

Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (2-1, 5.20) was set to face Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.35) in the second game of the series Saturday.


(AP file photo)