This Date In Sports History: Arizona And Tampa Bay Hosted Their First MLB Games In Franchise History

By Jordan Long

This day in sports history is significant to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays who were formally known as the Devil Rays.  Both cities were awarded franchises in 1995.  It wasn’t until 1998 they started play in Major League Baseball and each had their first game on this date.

                The Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the Colorado Rockies at home.  The starters for the game were Andy Benes for Arizona and Darryl Kile for the Rockies.  Colorado scored a run in the second.  It looked like a pitcher’s duel.  The score stood 1-0 until the 6^th inning.  Colorado managed to add 2 runs to their lead.  Arizona finally scored a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 3-1.  A 5 run 7^th inning was the difference as Colorado won the game 9-2. Darryl Kile earned the win for Colorado as he pitched 7 innings with just 1 earned run.  On the other hand, Andy Benes took the loss for Arizona.  He lasted 6.1 innings and gave up 5 runs with all of them earned.

                Arizona dropped their first 5 games that season.  Their first victory in franchise history came on April 5^th when they hosted the San Francisco Giants.   They held on for a 3-2 win.  Arizona ended up with a record of 65-97 in 1998.  It was a building block to what they have accomplished to this day with 1 World Series and 5 National League West division titles.

Another franchise also had their first game.  The Tampa Bay Devil Rays hosted the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field.  Wilson Alvarez was the starting pitcher for the Devil Rays.  The Tigers went with Justin Thompson.  Detroit did their damage early scoring 4 runs in the 2^nd inning, 2 runs in the 4^th, 5 in the 5^th.   The score stood at 11-0.  Tampa Bay tried to come back with 2 runs in the 6^th and 4 in the 9^th but it wasn’t enough.  They dropped the game 11-6. 

Alvarez took the loss for Tampa Bay.  He lasted 2.1 innings, allowing 6 runs.  For Detroit Thompson earned the victory pitching 6 innings.  He gave up 2 runs. 

                Tampa Bay won its’ first game in franchise history the next day against the Tigers.  It was 11-8.  Tampa Bay finished 1998 at 63-99.  The team was renamed the Rays in 2008.  The franchise up until this year has won the American League East title twice and had one World Series birth.  For all that Arizona and Tampa Bay have accomplished, it all started back in 1998.