ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals' offense didn't explode or unleash an onslaught that exorcised all the demons of its recent struggles, but it did provide key hits in crucial moments to stop the recent losing slide and, perhaps, allow for a momentary sigh of relief.

The two sluggers the Cardinals dropped down in the lineup in recent days, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Gorman, came through with pivotal home runs to drive in the tying and winning runs in a 5-3 walk-off win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, last year's NL pennant winners, in the opening game of a three-game series in front an announced crowd of 33,036 at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals first walk-off win since Aug. 30, 2023, snapped a four-game losing slide.

Gorman's walk-off two-run home run came against Diamondbacks left-handed reliever Kyle Nelson, who'd held left-handed hitters to a .167 batting average and without an extra-base hit this season.

Gorman, an Arizona native, entered the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning. His ninth-inning at-bat was his only plate appearance of the game. He recorded the first walk-off RBI of his career.

The Cardinals (10-13) homered for the first time since April 12. Their two runs in the sixth inning snapped a string of 14 consecutive innings without a run scored.

Goldschmidt, a former Diamondbacks star, recorded his first extra-base hit since he homered on opening day in Los Angles. He now has 10 home runs against his former team since joining the Cardinals.

Lars Nootbaar went 1-for 4 and now has all five of his RBIs this season against the Diamondbacks.

Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks in five innings. He struck out seven and left the game with his club trailing 3-0 after he threw 94 pitches. Lynn worked around traffic in multiple innings. He stranded eight men on base in his five innings.

Diamondbacks draw first blood

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