ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Spot starter Packy Naughton had blanked the opposition for the first two innings in each of his two previous starts for the Cardinals this season before faltering after that. But, the script changed Wednesday night. The left-handed rookie was roughed up for three doubles and three runs in the Tampa Bay first and the Cardinals, their own worst enemies, never quite recovered in an 11-3 loss to the Rays Wednesday night. .
The only highlights were the three runs knocked in by Tyler O’Neill and Yadier Molina making his second pitching appearance before a large Cardinals fan base starved for something to cheer.