ST. LOUIS — — George Springerhad five hits and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in three runs as the Toronto Blue Jaysbeat St. Louis 10-9 on Thursday despite the Cardinals’ Tyler O’Neill tying a major league record by homering on opening day for the fourth straight season.
Making his Cardinals debut, catcher Willson Contreras left after the eighth inning because of an injured knee.
Springer was 5 for 6 with five singles in the fourth five-hit game of his big league career.
Bo Bichette had four hits and Matt Chapman three for the Blue Jays, who outhit the Cardinals 19-15 and set a team record for hits in an opener.
Toronto won its fourth straight opener by overcoming a 9-8 deficit in the ninth against Ryan Helsley (0-1). Springer tied the score with an RBI single and Guerrero followed with a sacrifice fly.
St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas allowed five runs and 10 hits in 3 1/3 innings.
St. Louis RHP Jack Flaherty (2-1, 4.25 ERA last season) will go for St. Louis Saturday, 12:20 with the pregame and the first pitch at 1:15 on KIRX.