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Erick Fedde and three relievers combined for a three-hitter as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the visiting Minnesota Twins 5-1 on Saturday.

Fedde (1-0) held the Twins to their one run on two hits in six innings while recording two strikeouts.

Ryan Fernandez, JoJo Romero and Phil Maton worked a scoreless inning each to put away Minnesota.

Lars Nootbaar went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs as the Cardinals opened their season with two straight victories. Nolan Arenado and Ivan Herrera each went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Twins starter Joe Ryan allowed one run on five hits in five innings, striking out five. Reliever Jorge Alcala (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs without retiring a batter.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 first-inning lead when Nootbaar singled and advanced on a groundout before Arenado drove him in with a single.

Minnesota tied the game in the second inning as Trevor Larnach led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on a Willi Castro double.

Nootbaar got Fedde out of the inning with his diving catch of Jose Miranda’s sinking liner into left field.

In the sixth, Arenado lined a double off Alcala to lead off. After a Burleson walk, Herrera drove in Arenado with a single to put the Cardinals in front 2-1.

Reliever Luis Varland walked Jordan Walker to load the bases, then he struck out Scott and Winn. But Nootbaar’s two-run single gave the Cardinals a three-run cushion.

St. Louis pushed its lead to 5-1 in the eighth inning off relievers Jhoan Duran and Justin Topa. Scott reached on a bunt single and stole second base to set the table. Winn and Nootbaar drew walks and Donovan lifted a one-out sacrifice fly.

–Field Level Media