PHILADELPHIA – Nelson Cross emerges from the COVID-19 roster, played in the starting lineup for the first time in his career and hit a two-point double in the eighth episode of the Tampa Bay Rays duel win Tuesday 3-1 at the Philadelphia Phillies.
Creu, 41, who serves as Tampa Bay’s designated hitter, had never played as a first baseman, not even in the minor leagues. However, he controlled well all the balls that came to him.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had so much fun,” he commented.
The Dominican had not played defensively since he was placed as a left fielder in 2018 with Seattle.
In the first inning, with two men on board, Didi Gregorius connected on a shot that Dominican shortstop Wander Franco caught on the grass behind the box.
Franco shot towards his compatriot Cruz, who successfully caught the ball botepronto, ending the inning.
Cross had been absent from the game the Rays won in the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, as he was on the COVID-19 roster. However, it remained active before Tuesday’s engagement.
Manager Kevin Cash placed him in the starting lineup in order to have his bat in a National League park, where there is no designated hitter.
In the first inning, Cruz beat a single, the same as in the sixth, before his lineazo against Archie Bradley (7-2) in the eighth. Venezuelan Odúbel Herrera could not catch the ball in the left field, with which Brett Phillips and Cuban Randy Arozarena scored.
Here he concluded the work of the Cross. Cuban Yandy Diaz replaced him in the initial at the bottom of the eighth inning.
“It looked pretty comfortable here,” Cash said.
JT Chargois (2-0) poncho to his only rival in the seventh and picked up the win.
For the Rays, the Cubans Arozarena 3-1 with a score, Diaz 4-1. The Dominicans Cross 4-3 with two drives, Franco 4-1 with one scored, Manuel Margot 3-0.
For the Filis, the Venezuelans Odúbel Herrera of 4-0, Ronald Torreyes of 3-0, Ranger Suárez of 1-0. The Dominican Jean Segura 4-0.