'Best day of my whole life': Mass. native Seymour debuts, gets 1st win at Fenway

BOSTON -- Ian Seymour had been to plenty of games at Fenway Park. His hometown of Westborough, Mass., is roughly 30 miles from the historic home of the Red Sox. He’s seen the field from plenty of angles. He’s seen postseason baseball here, most recently the 2021 American League Wild Card Game.

But he had never been on the mound until the 10th inning of Monday’s series opener against the Red Sox.

The Rays had already run through the other four available options in their heavily worked bullpen. They’d built up a three-run lead and lost it. They surrendered a two-run lead in the ninth inning with closer Pete Fairbanks on the mound. The rest of the game was in Seymour’s hands.

So there he was, in a tie game, in extra innings, making his Major League debut, with dozens of friends and family members cheering him on throughout a wet, misty night at Fenway Park.

“I don't think I could have pictured that in a million years,” Seymour said afterward. “I'm kind of at a loss for words.”

Finally, in the 11th, Tampa Bay's No. 19 prospect nailed down the final out to secure a 10-8 win over the Red Sox, the Rays’ 15th win in their last 19 games.

Seymour became the fourth pitcher in franchise history to earn the win in relief in his MLB debut. The other three: Andrew Bellatti (May 9, 2015), Doug Waechter (Aug. 27, 2003) and Seth McClung (March 31, 2003).

“This is probably the best day of my whole life,” Seymour said.

A debut is special enough on its own. To have it happen so close to home, in such a high-leverage situation, and get a win? Even more so.

“Really, really impressive, the poise that he showed out on the mound,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I mean, that's not how you draw up anybody's debut, to come in in a tie ballgame in the 10th inning, but he couldn't have handled it any better.”

And Seymour was pitching in front of a crowd that inspired what he called an “overwhelming” amount of support and gratitude: his parents, Amy and Albert; his brother, Elliott; his sister, Isabelle; his grandmother; plus countless friends, neighbors, teachers, high school teammates and offseason workout partners.

That wasn’t on the 26-year-old lefty’s mind when he made his way to the mound in extra innings, though.

“I was just trying to throw the ball over the plate. Literally just get it over the plate as much as I possibly could,” he said, smiling. “I was happy I could, at least, kind of do that.”

Seymour, a starter in the Minors called up on Sunday to fortify an overworked Tampa Bay bullpen, struck out Carlos Narváez then retired Jarren Duran and intentionally walked Rafael Devers. Abraham Toro hit a grounder to first, but first baseman Jonathan Aranda misplayed it and fired an errant throw to Seymour, allowing Ceddanne Rafaela to score the tying run on the two-error play.

The Rays’ ability to win close games in a number of different ways has been on display throughout their recent hot streak. They had to do it again in the 11th before Seymour could get the win.

Josh Lowe worked a leadoff walk against right-hander Zack Kelly, then José Caballero dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance two runners into scoring position. After Yandy Díaz struck out, the Red Sox intentionally walked Aranda, loading the bases with two outs for Junior Caminero.

Caminero worked a seven-pitch plate appearance and walked to force in the go-ahead run, emphatically clapping his hands as he turned to the Rays' dugout after taking ball four.

“I went 0-for-5, but I'm not going to let that dictate how I play the game, and I'm not going to let that affect my teammates,” Caminero said through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “I just went there with a strong mind, and I was able to get the base on balls.”

Jake Mangum gave Seymour some breathing room with a run-scoring infield single. Just like that, a team that’s been slugging homers (30) and stealing bases (29) throughout this 18-game surge had scored two runs without hitting a ball out of the infield.

“Putting the ball in play, good things happen, and it went our way tonight,” Mangum said. “It could have gone either way tonight. That was a back-and-forth game. I'm sure the win probability stuff … that was just a roller coaster. But what a game.”

And what a night for Seymour.

“I think the composure speaks for itself,” catcher Danny Jansen said. “Hometown kid coming into an extra-inning game, it's a very bright spot, right? And [he was] able to stay within himself and give us a chance, a couple innings and ultimately, help us seal the win, it's pretty cool.”