Tyler O’Neill made Cardinals history on Opening Day

Tyler O’Neill had a great Opening Day, tying a 94-year-old Cardinals record in the process.

St. Louis Cardinals Gold Glove left fielder Tyler O’Neill seemed to pick up where he left off for his club on Opening Day against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

O’Neill had a five-RBI day for the Cardinals. This is something that hasn’t been done by a St. Louis Cardinal in 94 years.

His five-RBI season-opener is something that hasn’t been done since Wally Roettger way back in 1928.

O’Neill got things going in the first inning with a single to second base off of J.T. Brubaker to score Dylan Carlson. With Brubaker still on the mound in the second, the slugger hit a home run to left field scoring Harrison Bader and Paul Goldschmidt.

In the eighth inning, O’Neill hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Carlson, again.

Cardinals roll on Opening Day behind Tyler O’Neill’s historic performance

Aaron Fletcher had an around bad outing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in that eighth inning. Tommy Edman hit a home run to left field. The shot was an umpire review confirmed. After O’Neill’s sac fly, Nolan Arenado hit his first home run of the year, knocking in Goldschmidt.

Carlson hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning off Heath Hembree to score Bader.

The Cardinals won their first game of the year, 9-0. Adam Wainwright earned the win for the Cardinals. He threw six innings, gave up five hits, and struck out six while giving up no runs. It was an impressive outing for the Cards’ 40-year-old starter.

Roettger spent four seasons with the Cardinals in the 1920s and 30s. Like O’Neill, he was an outfielder for the Cards. In that 1928 season, he played in 68 games hitting .341/.372/.506 with 17 doubles, six home runs, and 44 total RBI.

It should be fun to watch O’Neill as the season progresses. He is primed to have a huge season and contend for a third-consecutive Gold Glove.