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Jonathan Aranda homered for Tampa Bay, which took a 7-1 lead
with six runs in the top of the sixth.
St. Louis answered back with eight runs in its half including
run-scoring sacrifice flies by Wetherholt and Ivan Herrera,
which tied the game 7-all.
Burleson followed with a blast to right field.
Both teams sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
Jonny DeLuca had a two-run single to highlight the sixth inning
for Tampa Bay, which had won four of its previous five games on
opening day.
Riley O’Brien picked up the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless
relief. Ryne Stanek earned the save. He struck out Richie
Palacios with the bases loaded to end the game.
St. Louis outfielder Nathan Church added a two-run hit in the
sixth. Church, Burleson and Victor Scott II had three hits each.
Yandy Díaz, Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes had three hits each
for the Rays.
Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen allowed just one run on four
hits over five innings in his first opening day assignment.
Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore surrendered one run on
seven hits in five innings.
The Cardinals are in rebuilding mode after trading veterans
Sonny Gray, Brendan Donovan, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras
in the offseason for prospects.
The game time temperature of 91 degrees was the hottest opening
day in the history of Busch Stadium, eclipsing the previous mark
of 73 degrees on April 5, 1999.
Up next
After a day off on Friday, Tampa Bay RH Joe Boyle (1-0, 3. 52
ERA last season) will face RHP Michael McGreevy (8-4, 4.42) in
the second game of the three-game set on Saturday,
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