Three Up, Three Down: Opening Day Edition
A lot has happened since the first edition of this column: I went to a Spring Training Game, the owners and players negotiated like shoppers at a flea market, and a global pandemic nearly derailed the season.
But the light at the end of the tunnel is finally starting to shine as Major League Baseball has returned! In honor of Opening Day for the Rays, let’s look at their three best and three worst Opening Day performances.
Three Up
1. April 3, 2000 – Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Minnesota Twins – (W, 7 – 0)
After losing each of their first two Opening Day games, the Devil Rays would win the next five contests, starting with the Minnesota Twins. The Hit Show, as the Tampa Bay lineup had been dubbed, showed what it was capable of as Tampa native Fred McGriff had three hits and drove in four runs, three of which came on a home run off fellow local, Brad Radke. Steve Trachsel struck out seven and scattered five hits over seven innings to pick up the victory.
Notes: Jim Morris, whose path to the major leagues was immortalized in the Dennis Quaid film, The Rookie, recorded the last out of the game. The Twins had their own notable pitcher in the ninth inning as future two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana made his Major League debut.
2. April 3, 2001 – Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays – (W, 8 – 1)
Tampa Bay stepped it up a little the next season, adding another run to the previous year’s total. This time, though, they spread the love around as every Devil Ray batter recorded at least one base hit. Albie Lopez pitched eight innings of one-run baseball for the Opening Day victory.
Notes: Devil Rays CF Gerald Williams hit a home run for the second consecutive opener. Former American League Rookie of the Year Ben Grieve hit a triple and drove in two in his first game for Tampa Bay.
3. March 31, 2014 – Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays – (W, 9 – 2)
This game featured a pitching duel between 2012 Cy Young Award winners David Price and R.A. Dickey. The two actually faced each other that season, with Dickey throwing a one-hitter for the Mets against the Rays. Price was the one in control of this game, though, as the lefty threw seven shutout innings before allowing a two-run pinch-hit home run to Erik Kratz.
Notes: Defending American League Rookie of the Year Wil Myers picked up three hits for the Rays. Tampa native Matt Joyce added three RBIs.
Three Down
1. March 31, 1998 – Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Detroit Tigers – (L, 6 – 11)
The first game in Devil Rays history results in the first loss in Devil Rays history. Wilson Alvarez allowed six runs on nine hits in only 2 ⅓ innings pitched. Tampa Bay tried to rally in the ninth inning, scoring four runs off Detroit’s Bryce Florie, but Doug Bochtler came in to get the final two outs.
Notes: Another good night for players who went to school in Tampa as Wade Boggs hits the first home run in Devil Rays history, while Luis Gonzalez of the Tigers would drive in two runs on three hits.
2. April 7, 2009 – Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox – (L, 3 – 5)
I included this game because of the circumstances: the Rays were coming off their first World Series appearance and were facing the team they beat to get there, division-rival Boston. They fell behind early, as James Shields gave up a solo homer in the first, then allowed three more runs in the third.
Notes: Though they scored three runs, Tampa Bay only managed three hits, with Carlos Pena and Gabe Gross going a combined 0-7 with seven strikeouts.
3. March 28, 2019 – Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros – (L, 1 – 5)
Another one I’m including mainly because of the circumstances. The Rays had won 90 games in 2018 but still finished third in the AL East behind the 108-win Red Sox and the 100-win New York Yankees. This was the first of a four-game series against Houston, and it was the only one that Tampa Bay lost. Austin Meadows hit a leadoff home run for the Rays, but the Astros scored five unanswered runs to bring home the victory.
Notes: This was another matchup of former Cy Young Award-winning pitchers as Blake Snell faced Justin Verlander. Also, I was at this game and it was disappointing. I didn’t even get to see Kate Upton.
