Saturday, 4 p.m.
Okay, who had Kameron Misner in the big-hit pool?
Besides no one, of course.
Misner, the guy at the end of the bench for the Tampa Bay Rays, launched a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday in the team’s season opening 3-2 win over Colorado.
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It was the first big-league home run of Misner’s career, which was all of 15 at-bats old. He previously had just one hit as a big-leaguer, and he had hit only .067 in his eight games with the Rays. He had 107 homers in the minors, 17 of them last year when he was the team MVP for Durham.
Misner was the first rookie in MLB history to win on a walk-off homer on Opening Day.
Misner was on the roster only because of an injury to Richie Palacios, and in the game only because of an injury to Josh Lowe. He jumped on the first pitch from the Rockies’ Victor Vodnik.
Also starring for the Rays was newly signed catcher Danny Jansen, who threw out two baserunners in the game.
The Rays had a typical Rays game, staying in the game with strong pitching. The hitting came more slowly. The Rays’ first hit (Yandy Diaz) was on a dribbler to third. Their second hit was a single to right by Lowe, who strained his oblique.
That was all the offense going into the seventh. But Jonathan Aranda drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and a single by Jose Caballero tied the game.
The Rays gave up just one earned run on the day by starter Ryan Pepiot. Pete Fairbanks got the win for the Rays despite walking two in his inning of work.
Kyle Freeland threw six shutout innings for Colorado.
The teams play again at Steinbrenner Field at 1:40 p.m. Zack Littell will start for the Rays against Anthony Senzatela.