In a thrilling ten-inning showdown, the Cardinals edged out the Rays 6-5, with the game delivering drama right until the final pitch. The Rays, silent for the first eight innings, erupted with a four-run rally in the ninth to push the game into extra innings.
Joe Boyle had a rocky start for the Cardinals, giving up two early runs, but then found his groove, retiring 15 consecutive batters. It wasn't until the seventh inning that the Rays broke through with a hit, courtesy of Junior Caminero.
The Cardinals extended their lead in the eighth when Ivan Herrera knocked an RBI double, followed by Alec Burleson's sacrifice fly, seemingly sealing the game.
Yet, the Rays weren't done. Chandler Simpson stood out, contributing two of the team's four hits and driving in a crucial run in the ninth. The real fireworks came as Carson Williams delivered a clutch two-run single, and Nick Fortes followed up with a game-tying hit that saw Williams sprint home from first, guided by third base coach Brady Williams.
In the tenth, Yandy Diaz wasted no time, driving in Ben Williamson with an opposite-field single to give the Rays a brief lead. However, the Cardinals had the final say.
Rookie JJ Wetherholt emerged as the hero, delivering a walk-off two-RBI single to seal the win for St. Louis.
The series wraps up on Sunday with a promising pitching matchup between Steven Matz and Dustin May. Fans can catch the action from Busch Stadium at 2:15 PM EST.