TAMPA, Fla. — Rookie sensation Kameron Misner showcased a thrilling start to his major league journey by launching a walk-off home run, propelling the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday. This event marked the beginning of Tampa Bay’s series of home games played at Steinbrenner Field.
Misner, a 27-year-old who began his MLB career in August, stepped into the game as a defensive substitution in the eighth inning. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the first player in major league history to hit his first career home run as a walk-off on opening day. Facing Victor Vodnik (0-1), Misner smashed a first-pitch fastball over the right-field wall, marking his second hit in the majors.
Securing the win for the Rays, Pete Fairbanks (1-0) successfully navigated the ninth inning despite issuing two walks. This game was held at the Yankees’ spring training facility following Hurricane Milton’s damage to the roof of Tropicana Field on October 9.
On the mound for the Rockies, Kyle Freeland delivered an impressive performance, striking out seven over six spotless innings. The Rockies, trying to move past their sixth consecutive losing season, saw Freeland command the strike zone efficiently, tossing 53 of 67 pitches for strikes and consistently starting his initial batters with strikes.
The score became level in the seventh inning as Tampa Bay capitalized with Jonathan Aranda executing a sacrifice fly, and José Caballero delivering an RBI single against Tyler Kinley. Last season, the Rays missed the playoffs, ending their run of five consecutive postseason appearances.
Ryan Pepiot, who started for the Rays, surrendered two runs—one earned—and allowed six hits over six innings, while striking out eight and walking one. Ezequiel Tovar contributed with an RBI double for the Rockies in the third, and Kyle Farmer drove in another with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Mickey Moniak made his Rockies debut as a pinch runner in the ninth, but fell short as he was caught attempting to steal.
A pivotal moment occurred in the seventh inning when, with the bases loaded and two outs, the Rays challenged a call by plate umpire Mark Wegner. Wegner ruled that Curtis Mead was not hit by a pitch, a ruling confirmed upon video review, leading Mead to ground out into a forceout.
Playing at Steinbrenner Field posed no challenge to the Rays, given its identical dimensions to Yankee Stadium: 318 feet down the left-field line, 399 in left-center, 408 in center, 385 in right-center, and 314 in right.
Looking ahead, Tampa Bay will send Zack Littell (0-0) to the mound on Saturday in place of the injured Shane McClanahan. Littell will start against Colorado’s Anthony Senzatela (0-0).