The Rays managed to escape St. Louis with a win, but it was anything but a walk in the park. Despite an impressive offensive showing with 11 runs on 17 hits and 4 walks, the game kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Starting strong, the Rays shook off yesterday's no-hit performance by putting up three runs in the second inning. Chandler Simpson sparked the rally with a single, followed by Johnny DeLuca's double that brought him home. A passed ball allowed DeLuca to score, and Carson Williams and Yandy Diaz teamed up with a double and single to add another run.
Steve Matz, newly signed this winter, took the mound and dazzled through two innings. However, the third inning saw Jordan Walker crush a 115 mph double, eventually scoring on a mishandled play by Palacios, cutting the lead to 3-1.
The fourth inning looked quiet for the Rays until Hunter Feduccia drew a walk, setting the stage for Yandy Diaz to double him home. Jonathan Aranda and Cedric Mullins followed suit with back-to-back doubles, pushing the lead to 6-1.
But the bottom of the fourth saw Matz unravel. A walk and single set the table for Walker's three-run homer, bringing the Cardinals back into the game at 6-4. A double play in the fifth kept the Rays ahead, but the tension was palpable.
Enter the Rays bullpen. Kevin Kelly allowed a leadoff double in the sixth, and Cedric Mullins' catch on a fly ball was crucial. Garrett Cleavinger faced a bases-loaded jam in the seventh but managed to escape unscathed.
The Rays added insurance runs in the eighth against rookie Matt Pushard. Yandy Diaz, opting for a bloop single this time, drove in a run, followed by Aranda's RBI single and Mullins' sac fly, extending the lead to 9-4.
Mason Englert, however, made things interesting in the eighth, giving up a solo homer and a two-run shot, trimming the lead to 9-7. The Rays' offense responded in the ninth with Carson Williams executing a perfect bunt to score Simpson, and Yandy Diaz's infield single added another, making it 11-7.
Bryan Baker entered with a four-run cushion and delivered three weak contact outs to seal the win.
Reflecting on the game, Matz showed promise in his early innings, and Yandy Diaz continued his hot streak with five hits and four RBIs. Aranda and DeLuca also contributed significantly, showing they're locked in. It's a win the Rays can build on, even if it was a nail-biter.