MLB Opening Day 2017: Top Opening Day Performances in Tampa Bay Rays History

Today will be the Tampa Bay Rays 20th Opening Day in franchise history.

Over the 19 contest the Rays have played, they have lost 10 games, including the past two in a row. The Rays have also picked up 9 victories, two of which were of the walk off variety. Also, three of those victories have come against the their opponent today, the Yankees.

Anyway, here are some of the top Opening Day performances in Rays history.

• 2003 - Carl Crawford only had one hit during a 1-5 performance against the Boston Red Sox, but that lone hit was a two out, three run walk off HR that gave the Rays a 6-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
• 2010 - Once again Carl Crawford would play the hero for the Rays on Opening Day. IN the bottom of the ninth inning against the Orioles, Crawford came up with the bases loaded, one out, and the Rays down by a run. Crawford would laced a ball down the right side for a two run walk off double.
• 2012 - Carlos Pena returned to the Rays in 2012 after a year with the Chicago Cubs. Pena had spent the 2007-2010 seasons with the Rays and decimated most of the club’s offensive records during that time frame. He received a thunderous ovation prior to his first plate appearance...then he hit a grand slam...seriously...he wasn’t done...seriously

Pena would be the hero as the Rays loaded the bases in the ninth and trailed by one. Pena was the plate with the great Mariano Rivera on the mound. On a 1-2 pitch, Pena laced a ball to the left-center field gap that would bring both the tying and winning runs across to score. Pena was 3-5 on the day with five runs batted in.

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