Tampa Bay Rays Return Home to Tropicana Field with 6-4 Win Over Cubs
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays marked their emotional return to Tropicana Field on Monday, securing a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs in front of a capacity crowd of 25,114. The game represented a significant milestone for the franchise, ending a 561-day displacement that forced the team to play their entire 2025 campaign at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa following the destruction of the stadium’s roof during Hurricane Milton.
Led by power displays from Cedric Mullins, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero, the Rays looked comfortable back in their home park. Mullins ignited the offense in the second inning, lining a 3-2 changeup from Cubs starter Jameson Taillon into the right-field seats to knot the score at 2-2. Caminero followed with a solo shot in the third, while Aranda provided insurance with a seventh-inning blast off Phil Maton.
The return also highlighted the comeback of ace Shane McClanahan. Making his first start at Tropicana Field since July 22, 2023, the lefty navigated four innings while allowing two runs and one hit. McClanahan’s appearance was a long time coming; the pitcher spent the last two years sidelined by a second Tommy John surgery and a triceps nerve injury that forced him to miss the entirety of the 2025 season.
- Tropicana Field return: The Rays played their first game in the venue in 561 days following extensive damage from Hurricane Milton.
- Pitching milestones: Kevin Kelly earned his first win of the season, while Bryan Baker successfully converted his first save attempt.
- Cubs roster updates: Chicago placed LHP Matthew Boyd on the 15-day injured list with a left biceps strain, promoting Javier Assad to take his rotation spot.
While the Rays celebrated a homecoming, the Cubs struggled to maintain early momentum provided by Nico Hoerner’s two-run single in the second. Taillon took the loss, laboring through six innings and allowing seven hits. Chicago’s bullpen efforts were hampered by Aranda’s late-game homer, ultimately handing the victory to the Rays, who improved their record to 5-5.
The teams are set to continue the three-game series on Tuesday night. The Cubs look to bounce back as Javier Assad is scheduled to make his season debut against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who carries a 1.80 ERA into the contest. The game serves as a critical test for an injury-riddled Chicago rotation tasked with adjusting on the fly.
