Robbie Ray worked around five walks over six innings and the bullpen closed out a two-hitter, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks spoil the St. Louis Cardinals' home opener 3-1 on Thursday night.

Arizona improved to 6-1 for the second straight season and tied a franchise record for its best seven-game start. The team was also 6-1 in 2000.

St. Louis dropped its first home opener since 2015.

Ray (2-0) gave up a run and two hits while striking out nine. He was making his first appearance in St. Louis since being knocked out of a game by a line drive off his head on July 28, 2017.

David Peralta capped off a two-run second inning with an RBI single. He pushed the lead to 3-0 with a double in the fourth.

Yadier Molina had a run-scoring double in the fourth for the Cardinals, who have lost two of three.

Brad Boxberger picked up his third save in three chances. Four Arizona relievers were perfect except for an error by first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the eighth.

Adam Wainwright (0-1) came off the 10-day disabled list to make the start for St. Louis. He gave up four hits and three runs over 3 2/3 innings. Wainwright struck out three and walked four. He had been slowed since pulling his hamstring late in spring training.

Ray, who went 8-1 in 15 road starts last season, also drove in Daniel Descalso with a sacrifice fly. Ray struck out Paul DeJong and Yairo Munoz with runners on second and third to end a threat in the fourth.

Chris Owings had three hits and reached base four times for the Diamondbacks, who won their fourth in a row.

Goldschmidt broke out of a 1-for-20 skid with a single in the sixth.

REDBIRD TRADITION

St. Louis Hall of Fame righthander Bob Gibson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to catcher Tim McCarver. The duo was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Gibson's 1968 season in which he went 22-9 with a 1.12 ERA.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: INF Jake Lamb remains on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. He suffered the injury diving for a ball on Monday.

Cardinals: RHP Jack Flaherty was sent to Triple-A Memphis to make room for Wainwright on the roster. Flaherty struck out nine and gave up one run in five innings of a 5-4 loss in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

UP NEXT

St. Louis RHP Michael Wacha (0-1, 7.71) will face RHP Zach Greinke (0-0, 1.59) on Saturday in the second game of the three-game set. Snow is in the forecast for weekend.

More From KHMO-AM 1070, News-Talk-Sports