Alec Burleson drove in two runs during St. Louis' five-run second inning, and the Cardinals opened their three-game series with a 7-4 win over the host Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night.

Burleson, who went 2-for-5, put St. Louis ahead 5-1 with the two RBIs in the big frame, and starter Sonny Gray (12-6) yielded three runs on six hits while fanning six and walking one in five innings.

Willson Contreras was 2-for-5 with a solo homer, and Lars Nootbaar went 2-for-3 with a double, a run, an RBI and two walks. Nolan Gorman was 2-for-4 with a double.

Tampa Bay's Yandy Diaz (2-for-3) crushed a two-run homer, and Chandler Simpson was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs.

In an erratic four-plus inning start, Joe Boyle (1-3) allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits while whiffing five

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