Willson Contreras homes during Boston's 9-3 win over the Cardinals in St. Louis on Sunday. (AP photo)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Willson Contreras homered against his former team and matched a career high with four hits, leading the Boston Red Sox past the St. Louis Cardinals 9-3 on Sunday.

Trevor Story also had four hits for the Red Sox. Contreras launched a two-run shot in the first inning and finished with three RBIs. He was acquired by Boston from St. Louis in a December trade.

“There’s a reason we got him, right?” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We needed a right-handed bat, and we got more than that. We got a guy that is playing great defense at first base. He controls the strike zone. He’s becoming a leader in the clubhouse. It’s fun to have him around.”

Contreras gave starter Brayan Bello a lead before he even stepped on the Busch Stadium mound by hitting a 3-2 sinker on the outside corner 411 feet into the right-center bleachers off Andre Pallante to make it 2-0.

“I kind of played like little mind games,” Contreras said. “I got on the plate. I got on the box, and everything went south for him. A 3-1 count, I wasn’t swinging. I was expecting like a hit by pitch or something like that, because I was on top of the plate. He executed and, then, I was like there’s no way he’s throwing off-speed right here. So I was looking for that sinker, especially middle down, and that’s when I got it.”

Contreras singled in the third, fourth and seventh before popping out to left field in the ninth. It was his eighth career four-hit game and first since June 2023 with the Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs in London.

Bello (1-1) allowed two runs and six hits over 6 2/3 innings in his 100th career start.

Jordan Walker hit his major league-leading seventh home run in the second for St. Louis. Alec Burleson also went deep, but Andre Pallante (1-1) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings.

Jarren Duran lined a three-run double over Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II’s head and later scored in the fourth to put Boston ahead 7-1.

Roman Anthony gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead in the second when he drove in Trevor Story on a one-out, bases-loaded grounder to shortstop Thomas Saggese, who was forced to throw to first after Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt was tardy covering the bag at second.

Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn missed his second consecutive game with a bruise below his left knee after he was hit by a pitch Friday night.

His teammates on the Red Sox have embraced their new first baseman and wore T-shirts with Contreras’ No. 40 on the back and his nickname Bowser on the front.

Contreras said he first heard the nickname, stemming from his physical resemblance to the Super Mario Brothers video game character of the same name, from Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, and it caught on when Boston teammate Trevor Story started using it in spring training.

“He brings a presence,” said Story, who also had four hits. “He brings an intensity and some leadership, too. We love that, and that’s what we need. We do have a younger group, and he’s done a great job of blending and kind of making it all work. So, he’s been a great addition, and he’s playing well.”

Up next

Red Sox: Open a three-game series at Minnesota on Monday night when LHP Garrett Crochet (2-1, 3.12 ERA) opposes Twins RHP Bailey Ober (1-0, 5.27).

Cardinals: LHP Matthew Liberatore (0-0, 3.38 ERA) faces Cleveland RHP Gavin Williams (1-1, 2.04) to begin a three-game home series Monday night.