Liberatore throws 8 scoreless innings in the Cardinals’ 5-2 victory over the Rays

By MARK DIDTLER
Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Liberatore didn’t allow a run in a career-best eight innings, Andrew Knizner and Tommy Edman homered and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Thursday night. St. Louis won two of three in the series with Tampa Bay, the AL wild-card leader. Liberatore (2-4) was part of a January 2020 trade between Tampa Bay and St. Louis that sent outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Rays. In his second start since being called up from Triple-A Memphis, Liberatore gave up two hits and had a career-high seven strikeouts as he bids for a fulltime rotation spot. He retired his final 14 batters. The Rays dropped three game behind AL East-leading Baltimore.