Rays Beat Cubs 6-4 in Return to Tropicana Field

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. The Tampa Bay Rays marked a long-awaited return to Tropicana Field with a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday, ending an absence of 561 days caused by Hurricane Milton's destruction of the stadium's roof.

Reliever Bryan Baker sealed the win by striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong in the ninth inning before a sellout crowd of 25,114, whose cowbells echoed through the renovated ballpark. "It felt pretty good to say the least," Baker said. "I think that was an encapsulation of how everybody felt getting back in this building and playing in front of these fans. To get out there and seal the deal for the boys was really fun."

The hurricane struck downtown St. Petersburg on Oct. 9, 2024, with high winds tearing away sections of the fiberglass roof and allowing rain to flood the interior for months. The damage led to mold growth and failures in electrical, sound, and broadcast systems. Initial assessments raised doubts about the venue's future, but the city invested nearly $60 million in repairs, including a new 24-panel roof installed last August, with the final piece placed on Nov. 21.

During the 2025 season, the Rays played home games across the bay at...