The Tampa Bay Rays aren’t any stranger to the playoffs in recent times, however the opener of their wild-card sequence in opposition to the Texas Rangers at Tropicana Area on Tuesday marked a primary for them in quite a few areas.
Primarily, it was the primary time All-Star outfielder and previous postseason hero Randy Arozarena was in a position to have his mom in attendance for certainly one of his MLB video games. Sandra González had been dwelling in Mexico — the place Arozarena lived after fleeing Cuba, and earlier than he immigrated to america — whereas ready for her visa to be accepted.
González had not seen her son play within the huge leagues in particular person till after her visa was accepted final week. She then obtained to throw out the ceremonial first pitch earlier than the Rays’ recreation Tuesday.
It seems like we now know the place Arozarena obtained the power to throw runners out on the basepaths, as González fired an ideal strike over the plate to her son.
Arozarena then gave his mom one thing further to cheer about with a first-inning single for the Rays’ first hit of the 2023 MLB playoffs.
The 28-year-old outfielder is trying to proceed being among the best playoff performers of his technology. He enters this postseason with a .333 common, 1.121 OPS, 11 dwelling runs and 17 RBIs in 120 profession plate appearances in October.
The Rays additionally wore a model of their unique “Satan Rays” uniforms within the playoffs for the primary time of their franchise historical past, in honor of their twenty fifth 12 months of existence. Tampa Bay made the postseason for the primary time in 2008, the identical 12 months they shortened their title from “Satan Rays” to “Rays.”
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