The Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado, just named Player of the Week for his exploits during the first few days of the season, got a jump on Week 2 with a two-run homer off Kansas City left-hander Daniel Lynch in the first inning.
Arenado’s third homer of the season was his sixth extra-base hit out of seven over his first four games. And he has driven in at least two runs in each of those games.
But, after Pujols had followed Arenado’s homer with No. 680 of his career on his first hit of the season, the Royals tied the score only to have Cardinals backup catcher Andrew Knizner punctuate his first hit by lining it into the left-field seats.