Rays rookie debuts with home run to help beat Cardinals 10-6

Carson Williams hit a two-run homer in his major league debut, All-Star Junior Caminero hit his 36th longball and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-6 on Friday night.

Williams’ drive to center in the seventh inning made it 9-6 and set off a raucous celebration by his family in the stands. He also had an RBI infield single in the third. The 22-year-old shortstop was the Rays’ top-rated prospect when he was called up on Thursday.

Rookie Nathan Church hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals in the seventh for his first career hit. Willson Contreras hit a two-run drive later in the inning to get St. Louis within 7-6.

Adrian Houser (7-4) allowed four runs over 6 1/3 innings for the Rays. The Cardinals’ Miles Mikolas (6-10) gave up 10 hits and five runs (four earned) in 2 2/3 innings.

The teams get a rare Saturday off before concluding their series Sunday. Mathew Liberatore (6-10, 4.13 ERA) is slated to start for the Cardinals against the Rays’ Ryan Pepiot (8-10, 3.95).


(AP Photo Chris O'Meara)