Rays outslug Cardinals 11-7 to avoid sweep

Yandy Díaz singled four times, doubled and drove in four runs, and Steven Matz notched the victory against his former team as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-7 on Sunday to avoid a season-opening sweep.

Jonathan Aranda added three hits and two RBIs, and Cedric Mullins also drove in two as the top three in the Rays’ lineup combined for nine hits and eight RBIs.

Díaz, Aranda and Mullins strung together consecutive two-out RBI doubles against Dustin May (0-1) in the fourth inning to push Tampa Bay’s lead to 6-1. 

Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman and Pedro Pagés homered for St. Louis.

May lasted only four innings in his Cardinals debut, giving up six runs on 10 hits. He struck out three and gave up a walk.

Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy, who moved from the bullpen after starting the final game of 2025, starts Monday against Mets RHP Clay Holmes.



(AP Photo Joe Puetz)