Rays defeat Cubs in return to Tropicana Field

Cedric Mullins and Jonathan Aranda crushed two-run homers, and the Tampa Bay Rays returned to their renovated domed stadium Monday afternoon with a 6-4 home-opening win over the Chicago Cubs in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Back in the dome across the bay from Tampa, the Rays rallied from a two-run deficit to claim their third straight win.

It was their first game at Tropicana Field in 19 months after the destruction from Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, 2024 - 561 days ago.

Junior Caminero hit a solo shot for the second straight game, and Yandy Diaz (stolen base) and Chandler Simpson (two stolen bases) had two hits apiece, with Simpson reaching base for the 10th straight game to tie Randy Arozarena's club record to start a season.

Starter Shane McClanahan lasted four innings and allowed two runs on just one hit. He struck out five and walked four.

Matt Shaw homered in the ninth, and Nico Hoerner drove in two runs as the Cubs mustered four hits and lost for the second straight time.

In a six-inning start, Chicago's Jameson Taillon yielded seven hits and four runs (three earned). He fanned four without a walk but surrendered two homers.

Making his first start in the dome since July 22, 2023, the oft-injured McClanahan fought control problems early, walking Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson to start the second inning before loading the bases by issuing another to Miguel Amaya with two outs.

The patience paid off when Hoerner lined a two-run single to left for a 2-0 lead as the southpaw's pitch-count climbed to 51 over the two frames.

Mullins evened it in the second when he roped a 3-2 changeup from Taillon down the right field line and over the fence to plate Simpson, who singled and stole two bases. The Rays took their first home lead on Diaz's two-out infield single and throwing error by shortstop Swanson.

Caminero boomed a 401-foot blast to left for a 4-2 advantage in the third, but Michael Busch got one back with a sacrifice fly in the sixth to score Ian Happ, who opened with a double.

Aranda ripped a two-run long ball off Phil Maton, hammering a 76 mph curve to right center for a 6-3 lead in the seventh.

Kevin Kelly (1-1) and Bryan Baker (first save) reversed their roles from Sunday's series-earning victory in Minnesota.

--Field Level Media