Colby Rasmus’ four RBIs help St. Louis Cardinals defeat Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 – MLB Update
St. Louis Cardinals’ out-fielder, Colby Rasmus was extraordinary with the bat as he hit four RBIs and went 1-for-4 with an average of .258 in the Cardinals’ 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, Florida on July 1.
Jon Jay was grounded out towards first base and Ryan Theriot fouled out to right-field at the top of the first inning. Similarly, the Rays’ offence was also unable to put runs as Johnny Damon was grounded out to second base and Evan Longoria lined-out to
right-field at the bottom of the first inning.
In the second inning, Lance Berkman scored the first run for the Cardinals when Rasmus was grounded out to second base and David Freese advanced to third base. Freese added one run on the single-run shot of Yadier Molina off centre-field. The Cardinals were
on top 2-0 after the second inning.
The batters got out without contributing any run from the third to seventh inning of the game. At the bottom of the third, Ben Zobrist walked but Reid Brignac was struck-out swinging and Damon popped out to short-stop. The Cardinals’ batters missed some
runs during the seventh inning when Mark Hamilton got his way back after striking-out swinging and Theriot flied out off centre-field.
The Cardinals’ starter, Jake Westbrook presented only two hits to the Rays’ batters and went score-less in his seven pitched innings. He struck-out seven batters and allowed just three walks on his 112 pitches. Speaking to reporters, Westbrook said, “It
took me a little while to get into a groove. Once I did, I made some pitches early on when I needed to.”
Both the teams blasted six runs collectively in the eighth inning and the Cardinals went ahead 5-3. Rasmus hit a three-run homer (395 feet) towards right-field while Berkman and Nick Punto both posted two runs to end the three-run campaign for the Cardinals.
Brignac scored the first run for the Rays when Longoria doubled towards deep right-centre.
Matt Joyce hit a solo homer (378 feet) to right-field and Longoria added the last run of the game. In the ninth inning, Sam Fuld was struck-out swinging and John Jaso flied out to right-field. The Cardinals are on winning streak from the previous three games
and took a three game series 1-0 lead after defeating the Rays at Florida.
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