PHILADELPHIA — Nelson Cruz had lots of reasons for that big smile he was sporting Tuesday.
He handled his first appearance at first base — not counting the couple of times he played there in charity softball games — just fine, including a smooth-looking stretch and pick of a bounced Wander Franco throw.
And Cruz delivered the big hit in another impressive late-inning Rays rally, lacing a two-run double in the eighth that was the difference in a 3-1 win over the Phillies.
“Overall, I really enjoyed it,” Cruz said. “I haven’t had that much fun in a while.”
The Rays, who improved their American League-best record to 78-48 and maintained a four-game East division lead as the Yankees won their 11th straight, were certainly glad to see it.
They took somewhat of a gamble to keep Cruz’s bat in the lineup for the DH-less interleague game started by Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez — though not as much as it seemed, noting that Cruz took ground balls at first several times a week for the last three years — and it paid off well.
“Yeah,” starter Drew Rasmussen said, “that guy at first was a natural, huh?”
Using a glove from former Twins teammate Miguel Sano, Cruz, the 41-year-old usual DH, played the field for the first time since a final outfield appearance in 2018 and handled all that came at him.
He made six somewhat routine plays well, had just one obvious mistake in roaming too far off the base once for a ball that second baseman Brandon Lowe grabbed, and was on the back end of Franco’s dazzling play from deep in the hole.
“Everything was fun,” Cruz said. “I had to slow down. I thought every ground ball I could catch. Even the one to shortstop, I almost tried to go get it. That was the hardest part. … It seems like every play, you have to be ready for every single pitch, so I really enjoyed it. It was a blessing.”
After completing the Franco play to quell a Phillies threat in the first, Cruz bounded off the field with a huge grin.
“It had been a while since I was, like, really pumped to do something, you know,” Cruz said. “Even homers and walk-offs, really just, I guess, another one. But that was a really nice play, and I was really excited to make that.”
As much as the defense was good, the hit was what mattered most. The score was 1-1 going to the eighth after a third strong start by Rasmussen and the usual good Rays relief work (Adam Conley, JT Chargois and, later, Andrew Kittredge), and a similarly solid showing by the Phillies.
Rays manager Kevin Cash made another right move, double-switching Brett Phillips into the game so he would lead off the eighth, and that worked as he singled off Archie Bradley and stole second. Randy Arozarena was then hit by a pitch, and Cruz blistered a ball 113.4 mph to score them both.
“Phillips did a great job just to get on base early,” Cruz said. “And like it’s been since I’ve been here, we get good at-bats late in the games and we find a way to score runs. It definitely put us in a good position, and the type of pitching that we have is just remarkable, the way we’re playing.”
Cruz was happy just to be playing after a scare that landed him on the COVID-19-related injured list Sunday and Monday.
After waking up feeling ill, Cruz — who was vaccinated before the July 22 trade from the Twins and got a booster shot a few weeks ago — tested positive, which he said “definitely was shocking.” But after two subsequent negative tests, the first was deemed a false positive and he was cleared to return. “Thank God it was only that,” he said.
Of all he got to experience Tuesday, his favorite moments were interesting — albeit novel — choices.
One was talking at first base with opposing hitters, such as Bryce Harper, who told him he appreciates the way he plays. Another was finally getting to listen in on mound visits. “I always wanted to see what’s going on,” Cruz said. “What do they talk about?”
Overall?
“It was just a fun day, you know?”
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