Cardinals

Aledmys Diaz then hit a two-run bomb onto the bluff that made it 7-0 in the second. Gyorko — who led the Cardinals with 30 homers in 2016 — went deep in the third off Mike Mayers to make it 8-0. Carson Kelly — the No. 4 prospect in the St. Louis system according to Baseball America magazine — drove in a run for the Redbirds in the bottom of the fourth.

Blake Drake and Alex Mejia hit back-to-back homers for the Redbirds in the bottom of the eighth.

The only thing missing was his trademark backflip.

Age may have prevented Stubby Clapp from pulling out all the stops but the former Memphis fan favorite drew a warm round of applause in his first home game as Redbirds manager.

“The thing I remember most about him from his playing days was his toughness,” said Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak. “I think if some of that grit comes out as a manager ... it will be fun to watch.”

The 44-year-old threw out the ceremonial first pitch along with last year’s Redbirds manager Mike Schildt and Chris Maloney, who managed the club from 2007-2011. Both Schildt and Maloney are on the Cardinals’ coaching staff.

On the move

Right-hander Sam Tuivailala will open the season in the big leagues after being called up from Memphis earlier in the day. The 24-year-old from San Mateo, Calif., appeared in six games for the Cardinals this spring, compiling a 5.40 ERA with no decisions. St. Louis placed righthanders John Gant (right groin), Alex Reyes (right elbow surgery), Trevor Rosenthal (right lat strain) and lefty Tyler Lyons (right knee) on the 10-day disabled list.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com.