File photo.
Mike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesMy pal Steve Austin, who you hear weekends on Q105, left this voicemail for me tonight. I wish I would have seen this as it happened. It's special moments like this that make your problems go away for a minute.
Steve's voicemail: I'm watching the Rays game tonight. The Rays are up at the plate and they're interviewing this little girl in the stands who has survived horrible cancer. 26 rounds of chemo. Just a sad story. She's at the game. She's recovered... but now they're saying she relapsed. Her name's Chloe and her favorite player on the Rays is Brett Phillips. She doesn't know it but he's at the plate. He doesn't know it that they're interviewing her on TV. All of a sudden you hear the crowd go crazy. The girl interviewing her told her "You know what just happened? Your favorite player just hit a home run. And of course she was just ecstatic. He doesn't know it at the plate. So it's kind of one of those amazing stories. And by the way, it was so high that it hit the lights. Phillips was wearing a bracelet she gave him.
After the game, Brett spoke to the media about the moment.
It wasn’t originally the season opener for the Rays. It was just going to be the home opener. But it all worked out as the Tampa Bay Rays held on to a 2 to 1 lead to kick off the 2022 season with a win. Check out these shots from a sold out Tropicana Field.
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: A detail of the bases ahead of the Opening Day game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: A general view during the Opening Day game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays greets his teammates during the Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: A general view during the Opening Day game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays scores a run in the third inning during the Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays is congratulated after scoring a run in the third inning during the Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Shane McClanahan #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates a solo home run in the sixth inning with Jorge Mateo #3 during the Opening Day game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Dillon Tate #55 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the fifth inning during the Opening Day game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Brooks Raley #30 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates winning the Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Brett Phillips #35 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits in the ninth inning during the Opening Day game `az at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 08: Ji-Man Choi #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays is congratulated after scoring the go ahead run in the eighth inning during the Opening Day game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on April 08, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
