Yadier Molina continues to defy Father Time, and Thursday¡¯s 5-4 extra-innings win over the D-backs in the series opener at Chase Field was no exception.

Lacing a go-ahead RBI double down the left-field line, Molina ensured that the D-backs¡¯ late rally would be for naught as the Cardinals improved to 28-22, holding a half-game lead over the Cubs in the National League Central.

? Box score

¡°He's Ironman back there,¡± Tyler O¡¯Neill said. ¡°You know he's a walking legend. ¡­ He comes up in big situations like that [and] is able to get the job done time and time again. So, something to look up to.¡±

Molina finished the night 3-for-5, but it was his work behind the plate that proved to be just as impactful.

For six innings, he helped guide starting pitcher Carlos Mart¨ªnez through a potential no-hit bid, and when the D-backs ended the no-hitter in the seventh and managed to load the bases with nobody out, Molina and reliever Ryan Helsley worked through the jam to keep the lead intact.

¡°Yadi played really, really well tonight,¡± manager Mike Shildt said. ¡°And he made some really amazing blocks a couple different times. ¡­ He was tremendous tonight on both sides of the ball.¡±

Molina, who signed a one-year, $9 million contract in the offseason to return to the Cardinals for an 18th season, is slashing .301/.333/.886 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs.

The Cardinals jumped to an early 4-0 advantage behind O¡¯Neill¡¯s two-run home run in the second inning on the second pitch he saw in his return from the injured list, and RBIs from Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado.

Mart¨ªnez kept the D-backs at bay as he chased the first Cardinals¡¯ no-hitter in 20 years, striking out six batters in his six hitless innings.

But things quickly unraveled for Mart¨ªnez in the seventh. A leadoff single by Ketel Marte ended the no-hit bid, and Eduardo Escobar followed that up with a single of his own. A David Peralta double ruled dead by fan interference plated one run and knocked Mart¨ªnez out of the game at 86 pitches, 55 strikes.

Genesis Cabrera allowed another two runs to score on a Pavin Smith double before leaving with the bases loaded. Shildt summoned Helsley from the bullpen, and the righty worked out of the jam on exactly 10 pitches and two strikeouts.

¡°It was huge by Helsley,¡± Shildt said. ¡°[He] pulled a Houdini. ¡­ Went into attack mode, bases loaded and kept it right there.¡±

Helsley said simplifying the situation was a key reason he escaped.

¡°One pitch at a time,¡± Helsely said. ¡°You can't let the inning get too big, can't think ahead. You just have to keep it one pitch at a time right there and try to minimize damage.¡±

He also pointed toward Molina¡¯s veteran leadership in helping make the job easier.

¡°It was huge,¡± Helsley added. ¡°He's been on the biggest stage possible for this game, and to have him back there to guide us as starters and the bullpen helps make our jobs a lot easier.¡±

The D-backs tied the game in the eighth off reliever Giovanny Gallegos, but the Cardinals¡¯ bullpen was able to force extra innings, and Daniel Ponce de Leon earned his first save of the season after Molina drove in the go-ahead run.

Mart¨ªnez, who one month ago told reporters that a ¡°tsunami is coming again,¡± finished his night charged with three runs.

It was one of his better outings this season, as he recorded seven ground-ball outs.

¡°I feel good,¡± Mart¨ªnez said. ¡°I trust in myself, 100 percent. I¡¯m here, and I¡¯m trying to help the team and help myself. Right now, I feel good with all of my pitches.¡±

And just like his teammates and manager, he had high praise for Molina.

¡°We trust in Yadi. ¡­ We know he can help the team when he¡¯s hitting and behind home plate, too.

¡°Yadi is the best catcher [I¡¯ve] seen in baseball.¡±