Busch Stadium was buzzing with excitement as the St. Louis Cardinals kicked off their 2026 season against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The atmosphere was electric, with a parade of Cardinals Hall of Famers and the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales setting the stage for an unforgettable day. The game itself was a rollercoaster, with the Cardinals mounting a thrilling comeback to edge out the Rays.
The Cardinals got on the board early thanks to JJ Wetherholt, who crushed a two-strike pitch 425 feet into Freese’s Landing, clocking an exit velocity of 101.7 mph. It was a powerful start that set the tone for the game.
Nathan Church wowed the crowd in the fifth inning with a spectacular catch, robbing a potential home run over the left field wall. His defensive prowess kept the Cardinals in the game as the tension began to build.
The sixth inning was where the fireworks truly began. After Matt Svanson took over for Matthew Liberatore, the Rays capitalized on some singles, with Chandler Simpson and Jonathan Aranda pushing Tampa Bay ahead 3-1. Chris Roycroft came in, but the Rays extended their lead to 7-1 with a series of well-placed hits.
But the Cardinals weren't done. They launched an incredible comeback in the bottom of the sixth.
Masyn Winn doubled, Nolan Gorman followed with an RBI single, and Jordan Walker smashed a ground-rule double. Nathan Church then brought in two more runs, cutting the deficit to 7-5.
The rally continued with Pedro Pages and Victor Scott II setting the stage for JJ Wetherholt's sacrifice fly, making it 7-6. Ivan Herrera's sacrifice fly tied the game, and Alec Burleson sent the crowd into a frenzy with a towering 432-foot homer, putting the Cardinals up for good.
A moment of levity occurred when Rays catcher Fortes took a hit in a rather unfortunate spot but displayed remarkable toughness by staying in the game. A nod to his resilience, indeed.
In the eighth, the Cardinals' defense shone brightly. JJ Wetherholt made a slick backhanded play, and Alec Burleson snagged a scorching line drive down the first base line, keeping the Rays at bay. Victor Scott II added some drama with a broken bat single and a daring advance to second, though the inning ended with Masyn Winn’s line out.
Ryan Stanek took the mound in the ninth to close things out, and while he allowed the Rays to load the bases, the Cardinals held firm. Former Cardinal Palacios made the final out, sealing a thrilling 9-7 victory.
The energy at Busch Stadium was palpable, and the Cardinals' resilience was on full display. Overcoming a six-run deficit for the first time since 2019, they showed why they’re a team to watch this season. Matthew Liberatore’s five innings, while not flawless, laid the groundwork for a memorable opening day triumph.