A Strong Start Paves the Way
What a thrilling game for Cardinals fans!
After a bit of a rocky start in the bottom of the 1st inning where the Rays managed to sneak in a run, our Cardinals didn't waste any time responding. The top of the 2nd inning saw us explode with a flurry of hits and smart base running. Thomas Saggese scored the first run for the Cardinals thanks to some heads-up baserunning, and Lars Nootbaar and Alec Burleson kept the momentum rolling. Before you knew it, the score jumped to 5-1 in our favor! That wild pitch was just another boost, sending Nathan Church across home plate!Ray's Response and Stellar Defense
Though the Rays threatened a comeback in the 3rd inning with a two-run homer from Yandy Díaz, our defense and pitching remained steadfast. Pitcher Connor Gray had a shaky start but managed to settle down, keeping the Rays on their toes. Our bullpen came in strong, crucially during the bottom of the 5th and 6th innings, preventing the Rays from capitalizing on momentum shifts. Nathan Church made a highlight-worthy steal in the 4th to keep us ahead. It was pinch-perfect defense paired with timely offense that kept us secure!Contreras Seals the Deal!
The top of the 7th was when Willson Contreras reminded everyone why he's a force at the plate. His solo home run to left center gave us the insurance run we needed, widening the gap to 7-3.
With this cushion, our bullpen had the freedom to focus on closing out the game, and they did just that! JoJo Romero and the relief roster held steadfast during the final innings, sealing the deal for a satisfying 7-4 victory over the Rays. 
Way to go, Cardinals! Onward to more wins! Let’s keep this momentum going!
️Scoreboard for Cardinals @ Rays (August 21st, 2025)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 |