Homers, bubble gum showers, parties: Revisiting Rays’ 11 walkoff wins

ST. PETERSBURG — It’s probably just a coincidence. A perfect confluence of timing and talent.

But with average attendance at Tropicana Field at its highest level in nearly a decade, the Rays provided an impressive number of walkoff victories in front of delirious fans this season.

Along with leading the American League with 53 victories at home during the regular season, the Rays won 11 games in their final at-bat. That means you had a nearly 1-in-7 chance of seeing the Rays dance their way off the field whenever you showed up at Tropicana Field.

It was the most walkoff victories in Tampa Bay since the 2013 Rays pulled off a franchise-record 13 last-second wins.

Before the Rays return to Tropicana Field next week for a likely appearance in the wild-card round, here is a countdown of Tampa Bay’s 11 heart-thumping wins at home in 2023.

vs. White Sox, April 21

Score going into 9th: Trailing 7-5

Final score: 8-7

Walkoff hit: Brandon Lowe

Details: After scoring four runs in the first inning, the Rays were trailing 7-5 by the fifth. The rally began with a Christian Bethancourt leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth, followed by a Yandy Diaz single. Lowe homered on a full count for the game winner.

White Sox, April 22

Score going in 10th: 3-3

Final score: 4-3

Walkoff hit: Randy Arozarena

Details: After a blown save in the eighth, the Rays came back for the victory in extra innings when Arozarena lined a one-out single to rightfield for a second straight walkoff against the White Sox.

Yankees, May 7

Score going into 10th: 7-7

Final score: 8-7

Walkoff hit: Isaac Paredes

Details: The most improbable victory of the year. The Rays were trailing 6-0 going into the bottom of the fifth with Gerrit Cole on the mound for New York. The Rays took the lead in the sixth, lost it in the seventh, then won in the 10th when Parades had a rare opposite-field hit with one out.

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Twins, June 7

Score going into 9th: Leading 1-0

Final score: 2-1

Walkoff hit: Randy Arozarena

Details: Five different relievers threw eight shutout innings on a bullpen day before Jason Adam had control issues and gave up the tying run in the ninth. That just set the stage for Arozarena, who homered on the second pitch in the bottom of the inning.

Guardians, Aug. 11

Score going into 9th: Leading 8-5

Final score: 9-8

Walkoff hit: Wander Franco

Details: One of the weirdest ninth innings you’ll see. Cleveland scored three times without putting the ball in play. The Rays gave up three walks, a hit-batsman and three wild pitches to blow the lead despite striking out the side. It ended quickly, however, when Franco led off the bottom of the inning with a home run.

Guardians, Aug. 12

Score going into 9th: Trailing 5-3

Final score: 6-5

Walkoff hit: Randy Arozarena

Details: Emmanuel Clase leads the AL with 42 saves, but couldn’t close the door on this one. Brandon Lowe drove in the tying run with a two-out single, then stole second before Arozarena drove him in with a single to rightfield.

Rockies, Aug. 23

Score going into 11th: 5-5

Final score: 6-5

Walkoff hit: Brandon Lowe

Details: The Rays first had to tie the score with a bases-loaded single from Yandy Diaz in the ninth. When the game went to the 10th, Lowe led off with a single to drive in the ghost runner from second.

Red Sox, Sept. 5

Score going into 11th: 5-5

Final score: 8-6

Walkoff hit: Brandon Lowe

Details: This one took eight pitchers and a blown save in the seventh before the Rays came from behind in extra innings. Tampa Bay started the 11th with a ghost runner on second before Diaz walked and Brandon Lowe followed with a three-run homer.

Mariners, Sept. 9

Score going into 9th: 5-5

Final score: 7-5

Walkoff hit: Yandy Diaz

Details: The Rays trailed 4-1 early, came back to take the lead, then blew a save in the eighth. The first two hitters went down in the ninth before Taylor Walls drew a walk and Diaz followed with an opposite-field homer.

Angels, Sept. 21

Score going into 9th: Trailing 4-3

Final score: 5-4

Walkoff hit: Manuel Margot

Details: Harold Ramirez led off the ninth with his 11th pinch-hit of the year and Diaz followed with single. A Paredes single drove in the tying run and, after a Josh Lowe walk, Margot hit a bloop single into rightfield for the winner.

Blue Jays, Sept. 23

Score going into 9th: Trailing 6-5

Final score: 7-6

Walkoff hit: Josh Lowe

Details: Toronto took the lead with a two-run eighth before the Rays got consecutive hits from Diaz, Ramirez and Curtis Mead to tie it in the ninth. The inning appeared to end when Junior Caminero hit into a double play, but a challenge overruled the call at first base. Josh Lowe followed with a single to leftfield to win it.

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