Rays move into Citi Field, their home away from home
NEW YORK — Evan Longoria was in David Wright’s lockers just inside the entrance to the Mets clubhouse, where the Giants and Virginia Tech football helmets had been removed along with the rest of New York’s gear.
Lucas Duda, traded from the Mets to the Rays in July, was in his old corner stall at the far end, near the showers.
Because of Hurricane Irma, Citi Field became Tampa Bay’s home-away-from-home for a three-game series against the Yankees that began Monday.
“You wouldn’t draw up a home game in New York against the Yankees in a wild-card chase,” Rays outfielder Steven Souza Jr. said. “We’re just thankful to have a place to play.”
Rays players were relieved the storm did not cause greater damage in the Tampa area, and manager Kevin Cash was optimistic the team would return to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a three-game series against Boston that starts Friday.
“From what I’ve heard, the Trop had some minor damages,” Cash said.
Before the storm passed through the Tampa Bay area Sunday, players worried whether they would play at Tropicana Field any more this year.
“It’s not a solid roof and nobody’s ever seen a hurricane category four or five in the Tampa area,” Souza said. “So we were just brainstorming on what could possibly happen, if our cars were going to make it, anything — houses were going to be in the ocean. When those kind of situations happen, just crazy thoughts start running through your head.”
During a weekend series at Fenway Park, players tried to focus but kept checking on the situation back home. When the storm tacked inland and was downgraded to category two, they felt relieved.