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Rays defeat the Red Sox 6-4 in home opener

The Tampa Bay Rays came from a behind to defeat the Boston Red Sox in the Rays’ home opener at Tropicana Field. For the first time in 50 years all MLB teams were scheduled to play on opening day, March 29.
 
Tampa Bay Rays players, right, and Boston Red Sox players lineup along the baselines as Belinda Womack sings the National Anthem prior the the Rays' home opener against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. Womack sang the National Anthem for the first Rays' game at Tropicana Field on March 31, 1998. DIRK SHADD   |   Times
Tampa Bay Rays players, right, and Boston Red Sox players lineup along the baselines as Belinda Womack sings the National Anthem prior the the Rays' home opener against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. Womack sang the National Anthem for the first Rays' game at Tropicana Field on March 31, 1998. DIRK SHADD | Times
Published March 29, 2018|Updated March 30, 2018


Ryan McNally, 33, of Seminole, grabs a burger while tailgating in the parking lot of Tropicana Field prior to the Tampa Bay Rays home opener against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. For the first time in 50 years all Major League Baseball teams were scheduled to play on March 29 to open the season. CHRIS URSO | Times
Daniel Robertson (28) and Rob Refsnyder (8) high five their teammates during the Tampa Bay Rays opening day against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on March 29, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. MONICA HERNDON | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) runs from the dugout after being introduced just prior to the Rays' home opener against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. For the first time in 50 years all Major League Baseball teams were scheduled to play on March 29 for opening day. DIRK SHADD | Times
Fans received 20th anniversary themed cowbells one gates opened at the rotunda during the Tampa Bay Rays opening day at Tropicana Field on March 29, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays take on the Red Sox with first pitch at 4:05. MONICA HERNDON | Times
Young fans wait for players to sign autographs prior the the Tampa Bay Rays home opener against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. For the first time in 50 years all Major League Baseball teams were scheduled to play on March 29 for opening day. DIRK SHADD | Times

First fans through the gates greeting Rays players on opening day

Posted by Tampa Bay Times on Thursday, March 29, 2018
Fans enter the stadium through the rotunda for the Tampa Bay Rays opening day at Tropicana Field on March 29, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Rays take on the Red Sox with first pitch at 4:05. MONICA HERNDON | Times
Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg on the field during batting practice opening day against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Thursday afternoon (03/29/18). DIRK SHADD | Times
Belinda Womack sings the National Anthem as Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16), right, looks on just prior the the Rays' home opener against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. Womack sang the National Anthem for the first Rays' game at Tropicana Field on March 31, 1998. DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Rays special assistant Tom Foley throws the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Tampa Bay Rays home opener against the Boston Red Sox Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. Foley enters his 42nd season in professional baseball and has spent the last 16 seasons on the Rays coaching staff. Foley first joined the Rays as a field coordinator in 1996. DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Rays fan Josh Smith, 27, of Trinity, rings a cowbell as the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox take to the field for their home opener Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. For the first time in 50 years all Major League Baseball teams were scheduled to play on March 29 to open the season. CHRIS URSO | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) leaps to make a catch at the wall on a long fly ball hit by Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) during the first inning of their home opener Thursday, March 29, 2018 in St. Petersburg. DIRK SHADD | Times
Chris Archer (22) throws during the first inning of the Tampa Bay Rays opening day against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on March 29, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Fla. MONICA HERNDON | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) and left fielder Denard Span (2) are unable to come up with shot to center by Boston Red Sox second baseman Eduardo Nunez who scores an inside the park home run on the play also scoring Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) during second inning action at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Thursday afternoon (03/29/18). DIRK SHADD | Times
Boston Red Sox second baseman Eduardo Nunez superman slides into home as he scores an inside the park home run, also scoring Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2), who waits to greet him after Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Denard Span (2) and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) were unable to come up with his shot to center during second inning action at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Thursday afternoon (03/29/18). DIRK SHADD | Times
Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Denard Span (2) celebrates in the dug out after scoring on a shot by shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (11). Span ushered in the comeback as he triples to deep right scoring Kiermaier, Gomes and Miller against the Boston Red Sox during 8th inning action Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg Thursday afternoon (03/29/18). DIRK SHADD | Times