Paul Goldschmidt went 4-for-5 with three home runs and five RBIs to lead the visiting St. Louis Cardinals past the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5 on Friday night.

The Cardinals evened the season-opening, four-game series at one victory apiece behind a 14-hit attack. Matt Carpenter and Paul DeJong both had two hits and an RBI for St. Louis.

Milwaukee got much of its production from the top of the order. Ryan Braun had two hits, including a three-run home run, Christian Yelich added a solo home run as part of a two-hit night, and Lorenzo Cain also had two hits.

St. Louis struck with three runs in the first inning, Goldschmidt's two-run home run -- his first as a Cardinal -- punctuating the rally. On the 10th pitch of his at-bat against Brewers righty Freddy Peralta, Goldschmidt the ball into the left field seats, delighting several pockets of Cardinals fans in the Miller Park stands.

St. Louis acquired Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks in an offseason trade, and the club signed him to a five-year, $130 million extension near the end of spring training. Goldschmidt added a solo home run in the sixth inning and a two-run shot in the seventh for the second three-home run game of his career. Milwaukee walked him intentionally in the ninth inning.

John Gant (1-0) earned the victory with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief, striking out two and walking one.

Taylor Williams (0-1) took the loss for Milwaukee, giving up one run and two hits in one inning of relief.

The Brewers tied the game in the bottom of the third on Braun's three-run home run against Cardinals starter Jack Flaherty with two out. An infield hit from Cain started the rally before Yelich reached base with a walk ahead of Braun, who pounded a Flaherty slider into the seats.

The Cardinals wasted no time in regaining the lead, scoring in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from DeJong. St. Louis was unable to do further damage, however, as Dexter Fowler struck out swinging with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Milwaukee answered in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly from Yasmani Grandal.

Goldschmidt would break the tie on the first pitch of the sixth, and the Cardinals would never trail again.

--Field Level Media