The Cardinals kicked off their 2026 season in style with a thrilling 9-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting year in St. Louis.
A Celebration of Baseball in St. Louis
Opening Day in St. Louis is nothing short of a spectacle, complete with Clydesdales, trophies, and a parade of legends that remind fans of the rich history of Cardinals baseball.
The Cardinals' first run of the season came courtesy of top prospect JJ Wetherholt, who launched a 0-2 pitch 425 feet to dead center field. This impressive homer earned him a curtain call, hinting at a promising future with the team.
Despite a strong start from Matthew Liberatore, who pitched five solid innings allowing just one earned run, the Cardinals faced a setback when Tampa Bay exploded for six runs in the sixth inning. Liberatore’s performance was bolstered by Nathan Church's spectacular catch, robbing the Rays of a home run before Jonathan Aranda's blast marked the only blemish on his day.
The bullpen struggled as Matt Svanson, Justin Bruihl, and Chris Roycroft combined to allow six runs in just one inning. However, the Cardinals' offense roared back to life with an eight-run sixth inning, igniting the Busch Stadium crowd.
Alec Burleson highlighted the inning with a towering two-run homer off Rays reliever Griffin Jax, sending a 99mph fastball 432 feet into the right field bleachers.
JoJo Romero and Riley O’Brien teamed up to keep the Rays at bay, with O’Brien showcasing his 99mph sinker over 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
In the ninth, St. Louis native Ryne Stanek made his Cardinals debut, securing his first save despite some tense moments. With the bases loaded, Stanek ended the game with a devastating splitter that left former Cardinal Richie Palacios swinging at air.
The Cardinals' offense displayed resilience, working Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen to over 20 pitches in the first inning alone. While they might not have the power of the Yankees or Dodgers, they excel at wearing down opponents with relentless at-bats. Alec Burleson, Nathan Church, and Victor Scott II each recorded three-hit games, while Ivan Herrera contributed with a crucial sacrifice fly during the big sixth inning.
Postgame, rookie JJ Wetherholt emphasized the team's commitment to "team baseball," underscoring their determination even when trailing 7-1.
Whether it was Wetherholt's first of many hits, Burleson's clutch homer, Church's acrobatics at the wall, or Stanek's dramatic save, the Cardinals' opening day had it all, setting the tone for an exhilarating season ahead.