For 27 seasons, the Tampa Bay Rays have called Tropicana Field their home. All these years, they’ve maintained a unique streak: not once has their home game been interrupted by weather. However, the streak officially ended on May 10 when the Rays went up against the Milwaukee Brewers at Steinbrenner Field. Yes, it was not Tropicana Field this time. The Sunshine State has always had unpredictable weather, but little did the Rays know that a rain-soaked afternoon would create franchise history.
Back in October, Tropicana Field’s roof was severely damaged when Hurricane Milton tore through. So, naturally, the Rays couldn’t host their home games at Tropicana Field anymore. Since then, the Rays have been using Steinbrenner Field, which is usually used by the New York Yankees during spring training.
Now, unlike Tropicana Field, Steinbrenner Field is an open stadium, and it was here that a historic twist unfolded. For the first time in Rays’ history, a home game was disrupted by rain, delaying their showdown against the Brewers by 27 minutes. But that’s not what made the headlines.
As it happened, the Rays decided to turn this unprecedented moment into a celebration. While fans certainly didn’t expect it, the team was already prepared for this circumstance. That too, in the most creative way. Tampa Bay announced that they would be handing out commemorative ponchos to all attendees. It was truly an eventful day for them.
The Rays had their first-ever rain delay after playing in domed Tropicana Field for all 27 years of their existence until moving outside due to hurricane damage.
They gave fans commemorative ponchos.
( via @recjus85) pic.twitter.com/2G2VGHccmZ
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) May 11, 2025
When the game resumed, the Rays had the odds in their favor. Perhaps aided by the rain, they defeated the Brewers 3-2. Well, not too surprising, as Steinbrenner Field has, in any case, been kind to the Rays. Out of 27 home games this season, 26 were sold out.
On the other hand, a whopping $22.5 million in funding was approved by the City Council for the repair work at Tropicana Field. The field is expected to be ready by April 2026. Until then, the Rays might experience similar instances under the gray skies of Florida. Not to forget, it was the Rays’ key players, more than the weather, who sealed the afternoon.
Highlight of Rays-Brewers game: Travis Jankowsk’s walk-off single
Though it was rain that made most of the headlines postgame, the final blow was delivered by Travis Jankowski. He snatched the victory from the Brewers with his walk-off single to left field during the ninth inning. It was just stunning. And the crowd couldn’t help but cheer his name loudly as Jankowski eventually ended the game dramatically. His soaring hit brought Kameron Misner home from second base.
Overall, the ninth inning was intense. Jankowski surely made an impact but the Rays’ closer, Pete Fairbanks, had his moment too. He held firm through the inning with the bases loaded. He didn’t allow a single run and earned his third win of this season. So, it wasn’t just the weather at Steinbrenner Field that had the fans rolling; it was the Rays’ phenomenal performance that kept the rain from dampening their spirits.
Credit: MLB.com
Meanwhile, for the Brewers, it was their third consecutive loss, extending their losing streak. They held a 1-0 lead early in the game, around the third inning. That was when Jackson Chourio hit his first home run of May. Then, the Rays took control in the fourth inning. Aranda hit a single, Taylor Walls hit a double, and then the star of the game—Jankowski—took over, giving the Rays a much-needed 2-1 lead.
All in all, the Rays were on fire throughout the game. For most of the game, they had the lead and won the hearts of the fans on a rain-drenched afternoon at Steinbrenner Field. Hopefully, they will be consistent for the remainder of the season.
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