Cardinals Rally from 6-Run Hole to Top Rays 9-7 in Opener

The St. Louis Cardinals rallied from a six-run deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-7 in the opening game of the 2026 Major League Baseball season on Thursday afternoon at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

The contest unfolded with early drama. St. Louis took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but Tampa Bay tied the score in the fifth before surging ahead with six runs in the sixth to claim a 6-2 advantage. The Cardinals responded decisively in the bottom of the frame, erupting for nine runs to secure the lead they would not relinquish. The victory provided an immediate boost for the home team, which finished last season with a 78-84 record and went 44-37 at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson delivered a pivotal two-run homer in the sixth inning that helped ignite the comeback. Prospect J.J. Weatherholt, making his MLB debut, contributed with a solo home run earlier and added an RBI on a sacrifice fly. For Tampa Bay, which ended 2025 at 77-85 with a 36-45 road mark, the loss came despite a strong offensive showing of 17 hits. Yandy Diaz, Ben Williamson, and Nick Fortes each recorded three hits, while Jonathan Aranda and Jonny DeLuca added two apiece.