“I continually attempt to humble myself; should you don’t, I’m positive the sport goes to discover a strategy to humble you,” Evan Longoria mentioned again in 2009 when he was simply 23 and the youngest Ray on the roster.
Wholesome servings of nostalgia and pleasure had been on the menu on Saturday throughout “Longo Day,” although the Rays’ four-game profitable streak got here to a halt in an 11-10 loss to the Marlins in additional innings.
Rays legend Evan Longoria returned to the diamond, signing a one-day contract to retire within the uniform he wore with distinction. No participant has worn quantity 3 since he final performed in 2017, and it appears solely a matter of time earlier than it’s formally retired. Longo frolicked interacting with followers, signing autographs earlier than the sport, and delivered the ceremonial first pitch to supervisor Kevin Money amid the acquainted electrical violin chords of his at-bat music, a nostalgic sound for longtime Rays followers.
After the ceremony, there was nonetheless baseball to be performed.
The Marlins encountered early bother on some pleasant fireplace when starter Ryan Weathers was bizarrely hit within the head by catcher Nick Fortes’ throw throughout his closing warmup toss. Remarkably, Weathers initially stayed within the sport regardless of clear discomfort.
You ever seen this earlier than?
Ryan Weathers makes his closing warmup pitch of the primary inning.
Nick Fortes’ throw right down to 2B hits him within the head. pic.twitter.com/rIRvzGvqUv
— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) June 7, 2025
The Rays rapidly capitalized on the second, surging to an early, and momentary, 4-0 lead within the second inning, highlighted by Christopher Morel’s booming three-run homer. Danny Jansen and Taylor Partitions adopted with back-to-back doubles.
Baseball’s humbling nature rapidly emerged, as Longoria talked about years in the past. Miami responded within the third inning, with former Rays prospect Xavier Edwards driving in a run on a double earlier than Jesús Sánchez’s three-run homer tied the sport.
Unphased, the Rays regained momentum within the fourth, due to a robust two-run blast from Danny Jansen. Nevertheless, the momentum once more shifted dramatically within the fifth when the Marlins exploded for six runs, that includes one other huge hit from Sánchez, this time a blistering two-run double.
Dealing with a 10-6 deficit, Tampa Bay was down however not out. Morel launched his second house run, adopted by Taylor Partitions’ clutch two-run shot. Brandon Lowe accomplished the comeback, dramatically tying the sport at 10-10 with a towering solo homer within the seventh inning.
Neither crew may break the impasse via the eighth and ninth innings, pushing the sport into additional frames. Miami briefly seized an 11-10 benefit within the tenth inning through Heriberto Hernandez’s well timed RBI single.
On a day celebrating Longoria, Rays followers hoped for a storybook walk-off ending. As a substitute, Marlins protection outlined the sport’s conclusion. Edwards, displaying pinpoint accuracy, threw out the potential tying run on the plate. The Rays challenged the shut play, however replay confirmed the out.
Right down to the ultimate strike, Tampa Bay’s hopes ended when Josh Lowe struck out swinging, finalizing the Marlins’ victory and concluding an emotional rollercoaster of a sport.
The Rays will attempt to begin a brand new profitable streak when these groups shut out the collection tomorrow.
