Cardinals Survive Rays Rally in 10-Inning Saturday Thriller

In a Saturday night slugfest that had all the hallmarks of classic spring training baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals outlasted the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 in 10 innings at Busch Stadium. It was a game that swung wildly on momentum shifts, questionable bullpen management, and ultimately, one team’s ability to keep swinging when everything seemed lost.

The Cardinals came out swinging from the jump, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning. Alec Burleson started the barrage with a sharp line drive single to center, scoring JJ Wetherholt. Nolan Gorman followed with his own line drive single to right, plating Burleson and giving St. Louis an early 2-0 cushion. It looked like the home team might run away with this one before anyone had even cracked open a beer.

For most of the evening, that lead held up. The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning when Ivan Herrera doubled to center, scoring Jordan Walker, and Alec Burleson drove in Victor Scott II with a sacrifice fly. A 4-0 lead in the eighth should be enough to put away almost any team. Should be. But baseball doesn’t always go according to script, especially in spring training when bullpen depth gets tested and arms aren’t quite sharp.

The Rays refused to go quietly into that good night. In the ninth inning, Tampa Bay suddenly exploded for three runs against what had to be exhausted Cardinals relievers. Carson Williams delivered the dagger with a sharp line drive to left field that scored both Junior Caminero and Chandler Simpson. Nick Fortes followed with a single up the middle, scoring Williams and suddenly making this a one-run game. Just like that, all the Cardinals’ early work nearly evaporated.

But St. Louis wasn’t done, and neither was Tampa Bay. The Rays tied it in the tenth inning when Yandy Diaz singled through the middle, scoring Ben Williamson. The game hung in the balance, ready to tip either direction. This is where Ryne Stanek earned his win, keeping the Rays off the board just long enough for his team to deliver the knockout punch.

JJ Wetherholt became the unlikely hero in the bottom of the tenth, lining a single to right field that scored Nathan Church and Jordan Walker, ending this melodrama with a 6-5 Cardinals victory. It wasn’t pretty. It required 10 innings and enough relief pitching changes to make your head spin, but St. Louis got the job done when it mattered.

Griffin Jax’s performance for the Rays was forgettable, giving up a run on one hit in just a third of an inning. Meanwhile, Stanek’s 1.1 innings of work allowing three hits and one run while striking out two proved to be the difference maker. In games like this, between teams preparing for meaningful baseball, the bullpen arms that get the job done are the ones worth remembering.

The Cardinals showed resilience and the ability to stay dangerous even when their opponent clawed back into it. That’s a good sign heading into the regular season. The Rays showed they can come back, which is less comforting when you’re the team that blew the lead.