Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: The Rays get to Mariano

On this day in 2012, the Rays secured an Opening Day walkoff win against the New York Yankees and the great Mariano Rivera.

Things got off to a great start, with the Rays career leader in smile percentage making a triumphant return to Tampa Bay by walloping a grand slam in the first against CC Sabathia.

Unfortunately, James Shields stumbled and gave it all back, and the Rays entered the bottom of the ninth down a run.

With Mo Rivera on to lock it down, Desmond Jennings led off with a single through the middle. Then a triple by Ben Zobrist chased him home to tie the game.

Two intentional walks and a strikeout later, and Carlos Pena finished it off with one of the longest singles you’ll ever see, sending everybody not in pinstripes home happy.

Pena would only hit .197/.330/.354 that season. But for a day, all was right with the world.

In the News

• Marc Topkin chimes in on the Rays social distance policy.
• Austin Meadows is sporting a new ‘do.

• Juan Toribio catches us up on what else Meadows has been up to.
• Brandon Lowe gets some BP reps at home.

• Ken Rosenthal at the Athletic writes on the possibilities of and obstacles to games in empty stadiums.
• Also from Rosenthal, an update on Matt Moore’s stint in Japan.
• Chris Landers tells us why we eat certain foods at the ballpark.
• Eric Chesterton writes about the strange tale of Ray Caldwell, who was struck by lightning while pitching — and somehow stayed in the game.

Stay safe, everybody!