St. Louis, MO -- (Sports Network) - Ryan Ludwick belted two home runs, including the game-ending solo shot in the 10th, handing the St. Louis Cardinals a 9-8 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the second of a three-game interleague matchup.

With one out and the bases empty, Ludwick belted a high fly ball to just left of dead center that cleared the wall for the game-winner, stemming a two-game slide for the Cardinals, who had dropped five of six overall before Saturday.

It was the second solo homer of the day for Ludwick, who finished with three runs batted in thanks to a bases-loaded walk.

Ryan Franklin (2-1) picked up the win for two scoreless innings of relief, after starter Adam Wainwright survived 12 hits over 5 2/3 innings, somehow holding the Rays to only four runs. Aaron Miles went 4-for-5 and scored twice for the Cardinals.

Dan Wheeler (0-3) gave up Ludwick's second homer and took the loss. Matt Garza started for the Rays, and was ripped for 10 hits and seven runs -- six earned -- in 4 1/3 innings for Tampa, which had won eight of nine entering play. Jason Bartlett went 4-for-5 and scored twice, and Carlos Pena belted a three- run homer in the seventh that got the Rays back in the game.

The Rays looked like they were going to keep rolling early, as they jumped right on top in the first on Evan Longoria's two-out RBI single to center. The Cards jumped on top in the home half, though.

Skip Schumaker and Miles got things started with consecutive singles to left, but Albert Pujols grounded out and Chris Duncan popped out. Troy Glaus came through with a clutch single to center, plating both runners for a 2-1 Cardinals lead.

The Rays came back with a two-out, two-run single of their own in the second. With the bases loaded and two outs, Carl Crawford poked a single to center, scoring two runs, and Tampa took a 3-2 lead.

Ludwick knotted the game at 3-3 with his ninth homer of the season, a shot to center to lead off the fourth.

The Cardinals took control with a four-spot in the fifth. Schumaker and Miles both singled to set the table for Pujols, who singled in Schumaker to put the Cards on top 4-3. Duncan fanned, but Glaus walked to load the bases with one out for Ludwick, who had already homered.

This time Ludwick worked a walk, forcing in another run. Yadier Molina grounded to short, but was able to leg out the infield hit, and Bartlett's throwing error allowed a second run to score on the play, pushing St. Louis ahead 7-3.

Gary Glover then came out of the bullpen for Tampa and was able to put the fire out, striking out Wainwright and Brendan Ryan, stranding runners at second and third.

Cliff Floyd's two-out pinch-hit RBI double got one run back for Tampa in the sixth, but Pujols restored the four-run advantage with his ninth homer of the season, a two-out solo blast to left in the home half of the frame.

The Rays were far from done, however. Facing reliever Randy Flores, Crawford singled to center and B.J. Upton singled to right to lead off the seventh. Pena then came through with a long ball to center, his ninth of the season, slicing the St. Louis lead to 8-7.

Longoria's sacrifice fly in the eighth tied the game at 8-8.

Game Notes:

The Rays pounded out a season-high 18 hits, to 13 by the Cardinals...Crawford and Upton each had three hits for Tampa...Schumaker scored twice for the Cards...The Rays left 10 runners on base.