Taylor Walls' 3-Run Homer in 10th Gives Rays Dramatic Win over Cardinals

St. Louis tied it back up in the eighth, getting a walk at two hits off Rays reliever Andrew Kittredge, who just came off the injured list on Sunday. The second single, by center fielder Harrison Bader, made it 1-1.

The Rays were in trouble in the top of the 10th. Colin Poche came in to pitch the 10th for Tampa Bay, and Paul Goldschmidt hit a ground ball to second to lead off the inning. Rays second baseman Vidal Brujan opted to throw to third to cut down placed runner Tommy Edman. But his throw was wide, and everyone was safe.

Nolan Arenado was hit by a pitch to load the bases with none out, and Lars Nootbaar hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Edman. Poche struck out Tyler O'Neill for the second out and, but then Harrison Bader ripped a single to center field. Kiermaier charged the ball hard and came up throwing, making a perfect toss that catcher Francisco Mejia handled well and got the tag down just in time for the final out. 

"I just wanted to get to it quick and make a good, accurate throw,'' Kiermaier said. ''I did everything I could to get it there, but the best thing about that play was Frankie's tag. That was a heck of a tag, because it's not easy to do. He deserved all the credit for that one. Shout-out to Frankie.''

It was big, keeping it to a one-run game. Paredes walked to open the inning, and Brett Phillips tried to bunt despite two infielders charging. Arenado made a great play and throw to cut down Kiermaier, the placed runner, at third. Yandy Diaz popped out for the second out, bringing up Walls. With a 2-2 count, he ripped the ball down the line, and was worried it was going to hook foul.

"I was trying to breath and stay composed in the moment, like I was playing Whiffle Ball in the back yard,'' said Walls, who had his first big-league walk-off and couldn't remember the last time he had done such a thing. "That was all that was going through my head, to stay calm and just breath. I thought it was going foul, and I was borderline pissed off, honestly. As soon as I hit it, I thought, 'wow, that's way fair,' but then it really started hooking, and I'm thinking, 'you've got to be kidding me.'

"As soon as it hit the foul pole, it was just a roller coaster or emotions. from happy to pissed off to happy again. It feels great. I come in to compete every day, and I have confidence to make the right adjustments. It's huge not for me, but for us, because really needed a win.'' 

Walls zipped around bases and touched home plated surrounded by jubilant teammates. 

"Very impressive. You feel good for Wallsy, and any of these guys who have been scuffling a little bit,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "To come up with a big hit like that and ultimately help us win a ballgame has to be a great feeling for him.''

The win snapped a two-game losing streak and put the Rays (32-23) back to nine games over .500.  The Cardinals fell to 32-24.

And getting the win meant it made Springs' start even more valuable. 

"(Springs) was awesome again,'' Cash said. "I just continue to be so impressed with his work. He's turned himself into a pretty good starting pitcher on the fly here.''