ST. LOUIS Chilly weather at Busch Stadium, hot bat for Jose Martinez.
In the coldest home start in Cardinals history, Martinez homered and drove in four runs as St. Louis ended the Arizona Diamondbacks four-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory on Saturday.
It was 37 degrees at gametime with a wind chill of 29. The previous recorded low in St. Louis was 37 degrees for the first pitch on April 16, 1961, against Cincinnati.
Martinez had a three-run homer and also singled in a run. His .357 average and eight RBIs are team highs.
Michael Wacha (1-1) outpitched Zack Greinke (0-1) despite matching a career high with five walks in the chilly weather. Four of Wachas passes came in the first two innings.
Wacha called it a grind.
Both starters went five innings. Dominic Leone and Matt Bowman each pitched a perfect inning of relief for the Cardinals and Jordan Hicks gave up an unearned run in the eighth. Bud Norris struck out the side to earn his first save of the season.
Martinezs three-run homer capped a four-run third as the Cardinals took a 5-2 lead. Matt Carpenter drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.
Marcell Ozuna had three hits and Yadier Molina singled twice for St. Louis. Carpenter singled in the first and has reached safely in all eight of the Cardinals games this season.
A.J. Pollocks single in the first gave Arizona an early lead. He doubled and scored on Chris Owings single in the third for a 2-1 lead.
Greinke retired eight straight after surrendering the home run.
The rubber game of the series is Sunday as Luke Weaver starts for the Cardinals, and Arizona will go with Taijuan Walker. The first pitch at Busch Stadium is scheduled for 1:15. Sunday’s game can be heard on KTLO-AM. The broadcast begins at 12:20 with Ameren Total Access.
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