Jack Flaherty survived a career-high seven walks and the St. Louis Cardinals scored three unearned runs in the third inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1 Saturday for their first win of the bell.
Flaherty (1-0) also hit a batter but went five hitless innings. Plagued by elbow problems for much of last season, the pitcher had just one clean inning, but it was his last.
Facing the Blue Jays for the first time in his career, he fanned four batters and benefited from a second-inning double play set up by third baseman Nolan Arenado off George Springer.
On a windy day with a temperature of 46 degrees Fahrenheit (8 Celsius), Flaherty threw 95 pitches, 49 of which were strikes.
Toronto had three hits after adding 16 singles Thursday as his 19 hits set a club record in a season opener.
For the Blue Jays, the Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 2-0 with a run scored.
For the Cardinals, no Latin Americans hit.
