JJ Wetherholt hits 1st walk-off, Cardinals thwart Rays comeback

Wetherholt's 10th-inning single lifts St. Louis over Tampa Bay

Mar. 29, 2026 at 3:10am

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JJ Wetherholt singled in two runs with one out in the 10th inning to lift the host St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 over the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday. After trailing 0-4, the Rays scored four times in the ninth to force extra innings, but Wetherholt's walk-off hit in the 10th gave the Cardinals the victory.

Why it matters

This game featured a dramatic comeback by the Rays, who erased a four-run deficit in the 9th inning to force extra frames, only to see the Cardinals prevail on Wetherholt's clutch hit. The back-and-forth nature of the game and the late-inning heroics make this an exciting early-season matchup between two playoff contenders in the National League and American League.

The details

In the 10th inning, Jordan Walker drew a leadoff walk to put runners on first and second for the Cardinals. Victor Scott II moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Wetherholt's game-winning single. Earlier, Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy threw six no-hit innings before the Rays rallied in the 9th, tying the game on a single by Nick Fortes. The Cardinals had taken a 4-0 lead, scoring twice in the 1st and adding two more runs in the 8th, but the Rays stormed back to force extras before Wetherholt's heroics.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • Wetherholt's walk-off hit came in the 10th inning.

The players

JJ Wetherholt

A Cardinals outfielder who delivered the game-winning hit in the 10th inning.

Michael McGreevy

The Cardinals starting pitcher who threw six no-hit innings.

Yandy Diaz

A Rays infielder who gave Tampa Bay a 5-4 lead in the 10th inning with an RBI single.

Nick Fortes

A Rays catcher who tied the game in the 9th inning with an RBI single.

Jordan Walker

A Cardinals outfielder who drew a leadoff walk in the 10th inning to set up the game-winning rally.

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What they’re saying

“That was a huge win for us, especially after blowing the lead in the 9th. Wetherholt came up big in that spot and I'm proud of the way the guys battled back.”

— Oliver Marmol, Cardinals Manager

“We showed a lot of fight to come back and tie it, but just couldn't finish it off. Credit to the Cardinals for finding a way to win it in the end.”

— Kevin Cash, Rays Manager

What’s next

The Cardinals and Rays will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth thriller highlighted the competitive nature of early-season baseball, with both teams showcasing their resilience and ability to mount comebacks. The Cardinals' walk-off victory demonstrated their clutch hitting and mental toughness, while the Rays' late rally proved their never-say-die attitude, setting the stage for an exciting rubber match between these two playoff hopefuls.