ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 2 (UPI) -- Casey Kotchman's bases-clearing double in the sixth inning Saturday rallied the Tampa Bay Rays to a 5-1 interleague victory over St. Louis.
The Rays trailed 1-0 entering the frame but scored five times to take control.
With Johnny Damon (4-for-4) on third, B.J. Upton walked with two outs, sending Matt Joyce to second. Kotchman cracked a 2-0 pitch from Cardinals starter Kyle McClellan (6-5) down the right field line, sending home all three runners.
Justin Ruggiano then capped the surge with a two-run home run deep to left-center field and the Rays went on to even the three-game series.
Jeff Niemann (3-4) earned the victory, limiting St. Louis to one run on nine hits and two walks over six innings, striking out five.
McClellan ended up allowing five runs on eight hits before exiting after 5 2/3 innings.
Lance Berkman homered to provide the only Cardinals run.
