Matt Holliday, while reaching base in a franchise-record 45 straight games at the start of last season, hit only three home runs in that span and then would finish the season with just four as he fought through two quadriceps tears.
But Holliday lined a three-run shot off former Holt High standout Tim Melville of the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning Friday night for his first homer since July 21, the ball settling into the center-field greenery, just out of the reach of jumping center fielder Billy Hamilton.
Let the party begin.
The Cardinals would bash five more home runs for a Busch Stadium III record of six, and could have had another in a 14-3 strafing of the Reds but for Hamilton snatching one from Matt Carpenter.