Rays def. Tigers on MLB Opening Day Just Like They Planned – Tampa Bay Times

ST. PETERSBURG — When you’re past all the pomp and pomp of opening day, the smoke and flashing lights, player introductions and the swarm of TV cameras in the clubhouse after the game, you need to find a way to win the game.

And the Rays did just that this Thursday, defeating the Tigers 4-0 in pretty much the style they hope will carry them through the next six — or possibly seven — full months.

Shane McClanahan delivered a dominant six-inning start. Jose Siri gave them an early lead with a homer in the third inning and they added in the sixth with clutch hits from Randy Arozarena and pinch hitter Luke Raley, then an eighth inning homer from Wander Franco.

Manuel Margot made a run-saving defensive play, an all-out run and dive catch to quell a Tigers rally in the seventh. And three relievers came together to make the last nine outs.

“We’ve been working on that all spring,” manager Kevin Cash said dryly. He later added: “A very Rays-like win. We will often sign up for these types of wins.”

Thursday marked the start of the Rays’ 26th season, and they have high expectations not only to extend their streak of straight playoff finishes to five, but also to win their first championship.

“We never know what a season will bring,” said main owner Stuart Sternberg before the game, “but this could be the one.”

Former Rays starter James Shields reacts after throwing the ceremonial first pitch. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

The Rays will also spend much of the year looking back, celebrating their first 25 seasons (or most often the last 15) and returning to their inaugural game on March 31, 1998, also against the Tigers.

James Shields, a key pitcher and popular player in their remarkable transformation from basement dwellers to contenders in 2008, was a good start to pitch the first pitch as he was warmly greeted by the boisterous, sold-out crowd at 25,025 Tropicana Field.

“Our fans were great – it was loud,” Cash said. “Everyone who planned the shows – which gets the boys very excited – did a good job. A lot of the videos were really cool, well done. Our new scoreboard looked good. All in all it’s just a really fun day to be a part of.”

McClanahan, the USF product on his second straight opening day start, played his part, allowing six hits but never getting into much trouble and scoring six.

“He just made a lot of really quality pitches and gave us a start that we’ll never complain about — six innings, no runs,” Cash said. “We sign up for it every night.”

When he was done, after a relatively efficient 87 pitches, the Rays went on three of their high-leverage one-inning relives – Colin Poche (who escaped thanks to Margot’s catch), Jason Adam and Pete Fairbanks.

Want more than just the box score?

Subscribe to our free Rays Report newsletter

Columnist John Romano will be bringing you the latest insights and analysis from Rays weekly throughout the season to keep you informed.

You are all registered!

Want more of our free weekly newsletters delivered to your inbox? Let’s begin.

Discover all your possibilitiesJose Siri runs from the dugout during the performance and then delivers as soon as the game starts. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

The Rays’ offense is the bigger question this season, fueled by the big production dip in 2022 and anemic display in Cleveland’s two-game playoff sweep, in which they scored one run overall.

Siri delivered that last run in 2022 with a solo homer and did the same for her first run in 2023, a 393-foot shot to leave Detroit starter Eduardo Rodriguez.

While Siri is best known for his speed and notable midfield defense, he also has the ability to hit some home runs — 16 in the last year and 20 in 2021 between Houston’s Triple-A and big league teams.

“I’m very confident in my strength,” he said of team interpreter Manny Navarro. “Sometimes I don’t have to try too hard. Sometimes I think the looser I am, the more the ball bounces off the racquet.”

The Rays believe the depth and variety of their lineup — a mix of power, contact hitters, speed, and left-right options — will be productive enough.

“It’s no secret that we have quite a lot of pitching staff,” Margot said of Navarro. “If we get at least five runs, we know they’re going to stop it for us.”

As McClanahan maintained the 1-0 lead, they broke through and continued in game six.

A walk by Yandy Diaz and a one-off single by former Tiger Isaac Paredes single got them going, then Arozarena welcomed reliever Jason Foley with an RBI single, and hitter Luke Raley, who made his first opening-day squad with a strong spring set up, delivered others.

Ray’s shortstop Wander Franco (5) celebrates a solo home run in the eighth inning. [ IVY CEBALLO | Times ]

Franco turned it back into a power show with his 402-foot shot into left midfield that ushered in eighth place.

“There were a lot of good bats,” Cash said. “In the beginning, you never know what you’re going to get on opening day. …You see some early swings that might stretch out a little bit more just because they’re overly boosted. But after ordering the first time, it felt like they looked a little more like themselves the second time, and we put big bats together.”

Overall it was a good start.

“Definitely,” said Poche. “Pretty normal Rays win. I think we will see a lot of that this year.”

The Tampa Bay Rays meet the Detroit Tigers, their opponents 25 years ago, in their first game at Tropicana Field. Former Rays pitcher James Shields threw the ceremonial first pitch to kick off the Rays’ 26th season.

• • •

Sign up for the weekly Rays Report newsletter for fresh perspectives on the Tampa Bay Rays and the rest of the majors from sports columnist John Romano.

Never miss the latest with the Bucs, Rays, Lightning, Florida College Sports and more. Follow our sports team on the Tampa Bay Times Twitter and Facebook.