Contreras HR, Burleson's 2 RBIs power the Cardinals to a 7-4 win over
the Rays
[August 22, 2025]
By KRISTIE ACKERT
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Willson Contreras homered, Alec
Burleson's two-run single highlighted a five-run second inning and the
St. Louis Cardinals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-4 on Thursday night.
Sonny Gray (12-6) allowed three runs on six hits in five innings, with
six strikeouts and a walk for the win. Kyle Leahy, Matt Svanson and JoJo
Romero (fourth save) combined to limit Tampa Bay to one run and five
hits the rest of the way. |
St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras (40) follows through on a single
off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joe Boyle during the first inning of a
baseball game Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris
O'Meara) |
|
Trailing 1-0 going into the second, the
Cardinals got run-scoring hits from Nathan Church and Lars
Nootbaar before another run scored on a wild pitch and Burleson
drove in two runs with a single to right field. Ivan Herrera
added an RBI single in the fourth and Contreras hit his 18th
homer of the season in the seventh off Bryan Baker.
Tampa Bay's Yardy Diaz hit a two-run homer in the third. It was
his 17th homer at Steinbrenner Field and 21st of the season
overall.
Joe Boyle (1-3) took his first home loss this season. He allowed
six runs, five earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and
three walks in five innings.
Key moment
Diaz, the Rays' veteran DH singled in the bottom of the fifth
and injured his right hamstring. He left the game and is
day-to-day.
Key stat
After allowing just one earned run in four previous starts at
Steinbrenner Field, Boyle allowed five earned and six total
Thursday. He also allowed a career-high nine hits.
Up next
Rays RHP Adrian Houser (6-4, 2.67 ERA) faces Cardinals RHP Miles
Mikolas (6-9, 4.99) on Friday.
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