By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals hit three home runs, but couldn't overcome an early 6-1 deficit, falling to the Tampa Bay Rays in their opening series finale 11-7 at Busch Stadium.
The Rays took a three run lead in the top of the second inning. Jonny DeLuca doubled to drive in Chandler Simpson following his lead off single to the inning, and DeLuca later scored on a wild pitch from Cardinals starter Dustin May making his Redbirds debut. Carson Williams doubled following the wild pitch and came around to score on a single by Yandy Díaz for the early lead. St. Louis did cut into the lead in the third with one run, an RBI single from Victor Scott II scoring Jordan Walker to put St. Louis down 3-1.
With two outs in the third, Tampa extended it's lead adding another three runs as Hunter Feduccia walked, and then back-to-back-to back doubles came off the bats of the Rays, the first coming from Díaz driving in Feduccia. Díaz scored himself in the next at bat Jonathan Aranda's double, and then Aranda came around to score when Cedric Mullins laced a double into right field. May escaped the inning striking out Junior Caminero leaving Tampa Bay leading 6-1.
The Cardinals again cut into the lead, narrowing it to two runs on the first home run of the game. Masyn Winn singled and Thomas Saggese walked with one out, and then after Ramón Urías flew out to right field, Walker hit his first home run of the season 415 feet to center field to cut the Rays lead to 6-4.
The score held until the eighth inning, when again Tampa Bay extended their lead with another three run inning. Ben Williamson singled to open the inning and Williams walked, both advancing with one out on a wild pitch by Cardinals reliever Matt Pushard, and with one out Williamson came around to score as Díaz drove in his third run of the game. A single by Aranda scored Williams and moved Díaz to third, and Díaz came home in the next at bat on a sacrifice fly from Mullins, putting the Rays up 9-4 going into the bottom of the eighth.
St. Louis continued to try to fight back in the bottom half of the inning, again answering the three run inning with one of their own. With one out, the first run scoring on the second home run of the game, a 443 foot shot to right center field by Nolan Gorman. Walker singled following the home run and then Pedro Pagés cut the lead back to two runs with his first home run of the season, going 418 feet to left center field for a 9-7 Tampa Bay lead.
In the ninth the Rays put the final seal on the game adding two more runs of insurance, the first scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Williams scoring DeLuca. Díaz continued his monster day against the Cardinals adding another RBI driving in Williamson for the final run of the game. Tampa Bay reliever Bryan Baker retired St. Louis 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the ninth.
May took the loss giving up six runs on 10 hits through four innings while striking out three and waking one. At the plate, Walker led the way going 3-for-4 with a double and the home run and three RBI's. Pagés was 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBI's. Scott II was 2-for-4 and Winn was 2-for-5 in the loss.
St. Louis will stay at Busch Stadium and host the New York Mets on Monday. Kyle Leahy is set to make his season debut, and just his second career start, for the Cardinals against Clay Holmes for the Mets. First pitch will be at 6:45pm, pregame will air near the start at 6:35pm on KY 102 (102.5FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.