A rookie pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays who had just been called up to the big leagues wasn't going to be late for his first day in the majors and walked to the stadium after getting stuck in traffic.Colin Poche was called up to be the 26th man on the roster for the second game of a day-night doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park and called an Uber to take him from the team hotel to the stadium.
There was heavy traffic near the ballpark and Poche realized the first game of the doubleheader was almost over. Instead of sitting in traffic, he grabbed his bags, got out of the car, and walked the final mile to Fenway Park.
Rays beat writer Marc Topkin broke the story on Twitter, saying that Poche received some strange looks from Red Sox fans as he walked through the streets with his Rays bag.
"Poche was trying to get from the team hotel to Fenway toward end of 1st game, was in Uber stuck in traffic so he got out and walked about a mile carrying his #Rays bag. Got a few odd looks but no one said anything. "Couldn't be late on first day," he said"
Poche made it to the ballpark in time to watch as the Rays took the first game by a score of 9-2. He got brought in to pitch in the second inning of the second game and managed to record four outs in his major league debut. He did leave two runners on base, and unfortunately, the next pitcher allowed them to score. Those baserunners were Poche's responsibility, and he was saddled with a tough-luck loss in the game.
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