Young cancer patient, Chloe Grimes, met Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Brett Phillips before the game Tuesday against the Oakland A’s in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Phillips was so inspired by Chloe, he would hit his first home-run of the season helping the Rays to victory 9–8.
On her second bout with cancer, Chloe would give her bracelet to Phillips before the game, as the two shared well-wishes.
When asked who her favorite player is, Chloe confirmed that it was Phillips. “He has the best smile. He’s always having fun, and I like how he does his airplane,” Chloe said.
“We’re also thankful for the Tampa Bay Rays,” added her mother. “They were there the first time (when Chloe had cancer).”
At that moment as Chloe and her mother were being interviewed in the bottom of the third inning, Phillips was at bat and hit a solo home run to right field of 404 feet, to increase Tampa’s lead to 6–3.
Following the game, an emotional Phillips said, “I had the chance to meet Chloe for the first time. And she’s battling cancer and she brought me these gifts. She wrote my name on a softball and Chloe, you’re an inspiration.”
“I think that’s the farthest ball I’ve hit my career,” continued Phillips. “I’m praying for you guys ... just unbelievable what they’re going through. I hope I can meet Chloe again and what inspiration the energy she brought (and) gave me a wristband.”
On the wristband, “It says rally for Chloe, our princess,” Phillips added in tears. “I’m praying for you Chloe and your family. You’re really cool, and that homer was for you.”
Game Report
What was supposed to be a showcase for two top pitching prospects turned into a four-hour, 12-minute shootout Tuesday night as the Tampa Bay Rays’ Manuel Margot drove home Wander Franco in the bottom of the 10th inning for a 9-8 victory over the Oakland A’s in St. Petersburg, Fla.The Rays scored two runs in the 10th inning as Franco previously drove in Brandon Lowe with a double. Franco, who has 11 hits through the first five games, is batting .550.
The offensive fireworks diverted attention from a rare double debut of opposing pitchers.
Tampa Bay’s Tommy Romero and Oakland’s Adam Oller became just the 28th combination of pitchers to face each other in their major league debuts, according to Baseball Reference. Neither lasted beyond the second inning.
Instead of Romero and Oller, offense was the story. Romero had been scheduled to start at Triple-A Durham on Tuesday but was called up after the Rays placed pitchers Luis Patino and JT Chargois on the 10-day injured list.
Romero walked the first two batters he faced before giving up a three-run home run to Jed Lowrie. Romero pitched 1.2 innings, gave up two hits and three runs, and walked five.
Tampa Bay quickly overcame the 3-0 deficit with a three-run home run by Ji-Min Choi to take a 5-3 lead in the second. Oller, who was removed after Choi’s home run, lasted just 1.1 innings, gave up five hits, and allowed five runs. He walked three and committed an error.
The Rays pushed their lead to 6-3 when Brett Phillips homered in the third inning. Oakland rallied to tie the game with a three-run seventh inning against reliever Ralph Garza Jr., who also was brought up from Durham earlier this week.
The A’s took an 8-7 lead in the 10th inning as Chad Pinder scored on an infield single by Billy McKinney. But the Rays took the second game of a four-game series with the heroics of Margot and Franco.
Ryan Thompson, who pitched the 10th inning, recorded the win and Lou Trivino took the loss.
