Tampa Bay Rays fans turned Tropicana Field into a gathering place Thursday, watching Game 3 of the playoff series against Cleveland and hanging onto the belief that the comeback might still be coming.
The ALCS matchup with the Cleveland Guardians was moved up to 1 p.m. because of weather concerns, and plenty of Rays supporters showed up at the Trop for the watch party anyway, even with the club playing in enemy territory. For some, the scene carried the kind of hope that has been building all series.
"I was here back when we made it in 2020-23," Aiden Zengel said. "That was a great stretch of time, but hopefully this is the year.
I have faith. I've had faith since the beginning.
People doubted us, but I got faith this year."
The watch party also gave fans a chance to step onto the field, with ticket holders allowed to toss the ball around out there. Meghan Partridge said the experience hit a personal note.
"This is the first time we've been on the field," Meghan Partridge said. "I remember when I was a kid running the bases, so I was so excited that this was the opportunity for us at the watch party. We haven't been able to go to a game yet, so I'm very excited."
The mood around the ballpark lifted when the Rays got on the board, but the afternoon still ended badly for the crowd.
Not everyone came in expecting an easy ride. One fan said the matchup already had the feel of a grind, even if there was confidence that Tampa Bay could survive it.
"I was thinking it was going to be tough," one fan said. "Cleveland's always had our number. It's better than Texas or some of the other ones we faced."
Another watch party is set for Friday at Tropicana Field for Game 4, which is currently scheduled for 6 p.m. Doors are expected to open at 5 p.m. It is not yet clear whether the game time will change.
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Rays fans settled in for a pivotal Game 4 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday night, only to find the start pushed back because of rain at Progressive Field. The matchup had been set for 8:08 p.m. ET, but MLB Communications and the Guardians announced the delay and said updates would come as conditions change.
The timing only adds to the pressure for Tampa Bay, which trails Cleveland 2-1 in the series and needs to avoid falling further behind. Nick Martinez was lined up to start for the Rays, while the Guardians planned a bullpen game with Shawn Armstrong, leaving both sides waiting for the weather to clear before they can find out how the next crucial chapter unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
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Rays Let A Winnable ALCS Game Slip Away At Worst Time
The Rays had chances early and even found a way to grab the lead for a moment, with Chandler Simpsons triple giving the lineup a jolt in a game that felt there for the taking. Instead, Cleveland kept answering, and the Guardians pitching and defense settled in just enough to make Tampa Bay chase the rest of the way in a matchup that could have shifted the series.
Petey Halpins fifth-inning two-run homer was the swing that changed the feel of the night, and Cleveland never let the game slip back after that. For a Rays club trying to stay ahead in the ALCS, a winnable game turned into a missed opportunity, and the loss left Tampa Bay staring at a 2-1 series hole instead of heading into the next game with control. [Read more 🡒]