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Rays Avoid Sweep with 11-7 Win Over Cardinals
Cuban slugger Yandy Díaz leads Tampa Bay's offensive outburst against former team
Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:23pm
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The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 11-7 to avoid being swept in their season-opening series. Cuban-born Rays infielder Yandy Díaz had a big game, recording four singles, a double, and four RBIs. Rays starting pitcher Steven Matz, who previously played for the Cardinals, earned the win against his former team.
Why it matters
The Rays are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 season, while the Cardinals are aiming to build on their playoff appearance last year. This early-season matchup between two potential contenders provides an interesting early-season test for both teams.
The details
Díaz led the Rays' offensive onslaught, recording four singles, a double, and four RBIs. Matz, who spent the last two seasons with the Cardinals, earned the win for Tampa Bay after allowing four runs over 5.1 innings of work. The Rays jumped out to an early lead and held on late to avoid being swept in the three-game series.
- The game was played on March 29, 2026.
The players
Yandy Díaz
A Cuban-born infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays who had a standout performance in the series finale against the Cardinals.
Steven Matz
The Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher who previously played for the St. Louis Cardinals and earned the win against his former team.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Major League Baseball team that defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 11-7 to avoid being swept in their season-opening series.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Major League Baseball team that lost 11-7 to the Tampa Bay Rays in the series finale after winning the first two games.
What they’re saying
“We knew we needed to bounce back after those first two losses. Yandy really set the tone for us today with his big game at the plate.”
— Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays Manager
What’s next
The Rays and Cardinals will not meet again in the regular season, but both teams will look to build on this early-season series as they aim to make the playoffs in 2026.
The takeaway
This win gives the Rays some much-needed momentum after a tough start to the season, while the Cardinals will look to regroup after failing to complete the sweep. Both teams have high expectations this year, and this series provided an early barometer of where they stand.
