MILWAUKEE — Center fielder Lorenzo Cain soared above the wall to rob Jose Martinez of a tying home run for the final out, lifting the Brewers over the Cardinals 5-4 in an opener Thursday.

With at least one Cardinal in the bullpen already raising his arms to celebrate, Cain pulled back the pinch drive by Martinez in right-center. A fired-up Cain flung the ball high into the air as the Brewers poured onto the field.

Christian Yelich got right back to work after winning the NL Most Valuable Player Award last season, putting the Brewers ahead to stay with a three-run homer off Miles Mikolas in the third.

Mike Moustakas and pitcher Jhoulys Chacin also connected for the Brewers. Chacin struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings in his third opening-day start. He also helped himself with two hits, singling and scoring on Yelich’s drive before hitting a 2-2 pitch from Mikolas for his second career home run.

Josh Hader retired five in a row before Cain’s play finished off the six-out save. Hader was crucial for the Brewers last year, and he became even more important when key relievers Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Knebel opened this season on the injured list.

Kolten Wong homered twice for the Cardinals.