03/29/26 04:29:00
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03/29 16:27 CDT Yandy Daz has career-high 5 hits, drives in 4 runs as Rays
beat Cardinals 11-7 behind Steven Matz
Yandy Daz has career-high 5 hits, drives in 4 runs as Rays beat Cardinals 11-7
behind Steven Matz
By JEFF LATZKE
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) --- Yandy Daz singled four times, doubled and drove in four
runs, and Steven Matz notched the victory against his former team as the Tampa
Bay Rays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 11-7 on Sunday to avoid a season-opening
sweep.
Jonathan Aranda added three hits and two RBIs, and Cedric Mullins also drove in
two as the top three in the Rays' lineup combined for nine hits and eight RBIs.
Daz, Aranda and Mullins strung together consecutive two-out RBI doubles
against Dustin May (0-1) in the fourth inning to push Tampa Bay's lead to 6-1.
The Rays tacked on three runs in the eighth off Matthew Pushard in his big
league debut, and Daz had an infield RBI single in the ninth to match his
career best with five hits.
Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman and Pedro Pags homered for St. Louis.
Matz (1-0) was making his first start since September 2024, when he lost his
spot in the Cardinals' rotation and got moved to the bullpen. He was traded to
Boston in July and then signed with the Rays in the offseason.
Matz pitched five innings and gave up four runs on six hits, including a
three-run homer by Walker. In the eighth, Gorman hit a solo shot and Pags a
two-run drive to cut the deficit to 9-7.
May lasted only four innings in his Cardinals debut, giving up six runs on 10
hits. He struck out three and gave up walk.
It was a breakthrough for the Rays, who had managed only one extra-base hit in
their first two games despite racking up 23 singles. That was the most singles
for any major league team in their first two games since at least 1900.
Up next
Rays RHP Nick Martinez and Brewers LHP Kyle Harrison will each making their
first start for their new teams Monday at Milwaukee.
Cardinals RHP Kyle Leahy, who moved from the bullpen after starting the final
game of 2025, starts Monday against Mets RHP Clay Holmes.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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