USA Today via Reuters
Oct 7, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) hits a home run during the third inning of game one of the 2021 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Oct 7, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) hits a home run during the third inning of game one of the 2021 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
MLB action on Thursday saw the Tropicana Field play host to Game 1 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox. The game saw many moments unfold, one of which was produced by the Rays’ designated hitter, Nelson Cruz.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
In the bottom of the third inning, the 41-year-old smashed a tremendous home run. While the hit drew its fair share of reactions from fans at the Tropicana Field, fans on social media sent reactions of their own as well.
Fans react to home run smashed by Nelson Cruz against the Red Sox
The Tropicana Field’s dome can often confuse many in terms of the rules. Since it has four rings, each of them comes with a separate rule should the baseball hit any of them. In Thursday’s game, Cruz’s colossal hit struck the catwalk, also known as the C-ring.
According to the rules, should the ball strike any part of the C-ring or D-ring and be in fair territory, it counts as a home run. Hence, Cruz slowed down after covering the first two bases due to the umpire awarding him a home run. His home run was the first of the Rays’ postseason this year.
USA Today via Reuters
Oct 7, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the third inning of game one of the 2021 ALDS against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
This sent fans into a frenzy on Twitter, with many sharing their reactions to the confusing home run. While some ridiculed the rules that apply in the Tropicana Field, others embraced the craziness that ensued.
To the m̶o̶o̶n̶ roof! pic.twitter.com/2qGRgDV7k5
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 8, 2021
Well that was crazy.
Nelson Cruz hit the C ring at the catwalk at the Trop and it's a home run. Any ball that hits that is a home run.
Looked weird, but hey. The Rays will take all the weird home runs they can get.
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) October 8, 2021
The @SpaceForceDoD just found Nelson Cruz’s home run ball. pic.twitter.com/pY90vz5jxD
— AJ♠️-y (@TropTop24) October 8, 2021
HOLY MOLY 💥
Nelson Cruz CRUSHED that ball! #RaysUp
— Kailey Mizelle (@KaileyMizelle) October 8, 2021
Bro if it wasn’t for the dome, Nelson Cruz woulda sent that ball out the state of Florida
— Trav 🇩🇴🇵🇷 (@YTTMoringa) October 8, 2021
where did Nelson Cruz hit his home run? pic.twitter.com/oJ1DXBTWsh
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 8, 2021
Nelson Cruz with the Tropicana Field specialty, a crushed ball off the catwalk for a solo home run. #ALDS #Postseason
— Ryan (@quaydawg85) October 8, 2021
The trop is a joke! Three or four balls lost in the roof and a catwalk home run.
— Greg B (@gbout35) October 8, 2021
I still hate the catwalk, and the ceiling, and everything about the Trop. But I love what just happened. #RedSox
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) October 8, 2021
Fenway’s Green Monster = The Trop’s Cat Walk Rings pic.twitter.com/KQGBtwPmVq
— Akeem Shinholster B.S., M.S. (@CoachShinWins9) October 8, 2021
This may be an unpopular opinion, but love the catwalk at the trop. And you know what else? I think Houston should bring back that hill in centerfield too.
— Jimmy Dahman (@JDahmanIII) October 8, 2021
Any ball off the c-ring catwalk is a home run at the Trop.
This won't happen in Montreal, right?
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) October 8, 2021
Cruz scored his 18th career postseason home run on Thursday
The Dominican scored the 18th home run of his postseason career with this mammoth hit. With this, he moved to sixth on the all-time list for the most postseason home runs scored by a single player. He joins Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, and Jose Altuve, who also scored 18. Altuve currently plays for the Houston Astros, who defeated the Chicago White Sox in their ALDS game on the same day.
.@ncboomstick23's 18 #postseason homers are tied for the 6th most all-time (Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Jose Altuve). pic.twitter.com/vbQ7n6kTzM
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 8, 2021
While Cruz put in a solid effort, his teammate Randy Arozarena stole the show in Tropicana Field. The latter scored three runs, which included stealing a base to score a crucial run in the seventh inning.
Despite the Red Sox’s best efforts, they couldn’t stop the Rays from trouncing them, with the scoreline reading 5-0. Game 2 of this best-of-five series takes place on Friday, October 8 at the Tropicana Field once again.
