In his first start of the season, young pitcher Shane Baz got roughed up by the Minnesota Twins. The Tampa Bay Rays suffered a 6-5 loss on Saturday in St. Petersburg.

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The 22-year-old gunner had started the game well by striking out the first six batters to face him, including two on strikes. Singles from teammates Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz in the opening round also gave him a three-point cushion.

But the situation changed dramatically in the third round at bat, during which Baz (0-1) gave up five runs, three hits and three walks. He was eventually taken out of the game after just one out during that fateful engagement. Luis Arraez notably managed a grand slam at his expense. It was finally a single from Jorge Polanco in the sixth that made the difference in the game.

The victory went to Trevor MeGill's record (2-1), then Emilio Pagan then had his eighth save of the season. Previously, Twins starter Chi Chi Gonzalez had given up three runs and eight hits to the safety in four innings.

The Rays (34-25) will try to avoid the sweep on Sunday before visiting the mighty New York Yankees, leaders of the American League East Division. They remain behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the standings.

A winning comeback in St. Louis

In St. Louis, the Cardinals erased a three-run deficit in the final two innings to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4.

A double from Tyler O'Neill in the eighth closed the gap to a single run, then a two-run homer from Tommy Edman ended the game during the final engagement.

O'Neill finished the game with three RBIs on a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Nick Wittgren (1-0) had the win on his record, while Joel Kuhnel (0-1) squandered the visitors' lead to a fourth successive defeat.