Red Sox, Contreras explode in 9th to beat Cardinals 7-1

Willson Contreras drove in three runs against his former team, Ranger Suárez pitched six scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox set a season high for runs with a 7-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.

Boston, which broke open the game with a five-run ninth inning, has won three of four after a 2-8 start.

Jordan Walker hit his NL-leading sixth home run for the Cardinals.

A three-time All-Star, Contreras was acquired by Boston from St. Louis in a December trade. He put the Red Sox ahead 2-0 with a two-run double in the fourth off Kyle Leahy (1-2) and added run-scoring single in the ninth for his first three-RBI game with the Red Sox.

Boston RHP Brayan Bello (0-1, 9.00 ERA) and St. Louis RHP Andre Pallante (1-0, 1.80 ERA) start in Sunday’s series finale.


(AP Photo Jeff Roberson)