The Tampa Bay Rays had spent their first decade struggling to find their footing in Major League Baseball. That changed dramatically in 2008.
On August 29, the Rays faced the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field with an 81-51 record. One more victory would guarantee the first winning season in franchise history.
They did not leave much doubt.
Tampa Bay defeated Baltimore 14-3 in front of 21,439 fans. Cliff Floyd drove in five runs, including a pair of doubles and a sacrifice fly, while rookie Ben Zobrist launched his first major league grand slam in the fourth inning. Shawn Riggans added a solo home run later in the game.
When the final out was recorded, the Rays had their 82nd victory of the season and, for the first time, could officially call themselves a winning team.
But the breakthrough was only beginning. The Rays went on to win the American League East, reach the World Series, and finish the season 97-65.
It was a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that had finished 66-96 just one year earlier.
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