On August 18, 2012, the Tampa Bay Rays pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history.
Playing the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium, Tampa Bay fell behind 8-0 after three innings. It looked like the kind of deficit that could put a game out of reach. Instead, the Rays slowly turned things around.
The comeback exploded in the fifth inning when Tampa Bay scored seven runs. Ben Zobrist delivered a bases-clearing double, followed by Evan Longoria’s two-run homer that cut the Angels’ lead to 8-7. The Rays tied the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Jose Lobaton.
Then came the decisive moment.
In the eighth inning, Carlos Peña came off the bench to pinch-hit against Angels reliever Kevin Jepsen. With a runner aboard, Peña (pictured) launched a two-run homer to give Tampa Bay a 10-8 lead. It was the first pinch-hit home run of his career.
The Rays held on for the win, matching the largest comeback in franchise history.
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