Lorenzo Cain robs José Martínez of home run to end Opening Day game - MLB

Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain ended Opening Day in style, robbing José Martínez of a game-tying solo home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning.

Lefty reliever Josh Hader was on for his second inning of work after striking out the side in the top of the eighth. He got Yadier Molina to fly out, then struck out Dexter Fowler to bring up Martínez. Martínez took an inside fastball for ball one, then ripped a second fastball that caught a bit too much of the plate to right-center field. Cain, who somehow has never won a Gold Glove Award, gave chase. He slowed down at the warning track, timing his leap just in front of the Cardinals’ bullpen. As replays showed, the ball indeed would’ve slipped just over the fence if not for Cain’s effort.

The Brewers won 5-4. Hader got the save. Starter Jhoulys Chacín — who homered — got the win. Miles Mikolas was saddled with the loss.

Follow @Baer_Bill

HOUSTON – Yordan Alvarez hit a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh inning, and the Houston Astros rallied past the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Friday night for their first win of the season.

Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in the sixth and made a spectacular catch at the wall in the seventh to rob Andrew Benintendi of extra bases and keep the World Series champion Astros within one run.

Eloy Jimenez hit two RBI doubles for the White Sox, both off Astros starter Cristian Javier.

Jimenez’s first double scored Tim Anderson in the first inning. In the sixth, Javier gave up three straight doubles to Benintendi, Jimenez and Joan Moncada to make it 3-0 and end his night.

White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh on two walks and a single. Jake Diekman came on and gave up Alvarez’s double to deep left-center, a drive that just eluded Luis Robert Jr. and bounced off the wall, clearing the bases.

Four Astros relievers each worked one scoreless inning. Seth Martinez (1-0) got the win and Rafael Montero handled the ninth for his first save.

Chicago starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

ALL IN A DAY’S REST

White Sox INF Andrew Vaughn, who hit a go-ahead two-run double in Thursday’s season-opening win, did not play. Vaughn experienced lower back issues during spring training. Gavin Sheets started at first base.

HOMETOWN HIT

Astros outfielder Corey Yulks, a Houston-area native, singled in his first at-bat and finished 1-for-4 in his major league debut.

PUT A RING ON IT

Astros owner Jim Crane and his wife, Whitney, presented the team and staff with their 2022 World Series rings in a pregame ceremony.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: LHP Blake Taylor, who is on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow strain, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land.

UP NEXT

The four-game season-opening series continues Saturday when Houston’s Jose Urquidy faces Chicago’s Lucas Giolito.