Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, and Randy Arozarena came through for the Tampa Bay Rays as they secured a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. In the eighth inning, Diaz, Lowe, and Arozarena each hit RBI singles, providing the winning margin for the Rays.
The eighth inning started with a bang when Josh Lowe tripled off Miles Mikolas, setting the stage for an exciting rally. Colombian pinch-hitter Harold Ramirez was retired on a groundout by Andre Pallante, but it didn’t hinder the Rays’ momentum. Yandy Diaz then hit a groundout single to center field, bringing in a run and giving Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead.
This sparked a sequence of four consecutive singles by the Rays. Brandon Lowe and Randy Arozarena both delivered clutch hits to drive in runs, extending the team’s advantage. Yandy Diaz had an exceptional performance, going 4 for 4, which also raised his season average from .315 to .322. The win improved the Rays’ record to 7-3 in their last ten games, highlighting their strong form.
The Cardinals had their moments too, with Isaac Paredes hitting his 22nd home run of the season in the seventh inning, which tied the game at 1-1. However, Tampa Bay center fielder Jose Siri made an outstanding leaping catch at the fence in the top of the eighth, denying the Cardinals a potential go-ahead hit by Nolan Gorman.
Both teams boasted impressive performances from their international players. Willson Contreras from Venezuela had a 4-1 night for the Cardinals, contributing a run scored and an RBI. Meanwhile, the Rays’ Yandy Diaz, a Cuban player, went 4-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Other notable performances from the Rays included Dominicans Wander Franco (4-1, run scored) and Jose Siri (4-0). Mexicans Randy Arozarena (4-2, RBI) and Isaac Paredes (3-1, run scored, RBI), along with Panamanian Christian Bethancourt (2-1), and Colombian Harold Ramirez (1-0) also made their mark.
Overall, the Tampa Bay Rays demonstrated their offensive prowess in the eighth inning, securing a crucial victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. With key contributions from international players, the Rays showed their depth and resilience on their path to continuing their strong performances this season.