Gross enjoying his time with Tampa Bay Rays

By Micah Lewter

Published: July 3, 2008

April 22 was a strange day for Dothan native Gabe Gross.

The former Northview and Auburn star had a memorable game. The Milwaukee Brewers outlasted the St. Louis Cardinals in 12 innings, with Gross scoring the winning run in dramatic fashion.

He drew a walk, stole second and then scored on a single to give the Brewers a 9-8 win.

The celebration did not last long. Shortly after the game, Gross received word he had been traded to the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays? The team heretofore known as the Devil Rays? The team without much fan base, competing in the division with New York and Boston? The team playing a three-game series in Disney World the week of the trade?

“It was pretty much just ... weird,” Gross said. “You prepare all spring training and in the beginning of the season with a team, hoping to accomplish its goals, and in the blink of an eye, you’re no longer with the team.

“That was a little difficult. I had some really good friends in Milwaukee. But it didn’t take long to realize we had good group of guys who were ready to win in Tampa Bay.”

At first glance, it may not have appeared that the Rays were ready to win. As April 22 began, the Rays were 8-11 and beginning a three-game home series in Orlando at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports complex.

The opponent, oddly enough, was the Toronto Blue Jays, Gross’ first major league team. It really is a small world after all.
Gross’ first appearance came in the third game of the series, as the Rays finished the Magic Kingdom sweep to break back to .500.

Goofy as it sounds, that series was a turning point for the Rays. They followed that sweep with a Tropicana Field sweep of the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox, and have been on fire ever since.

The Rays — yes, the Rays — are owners of baseball’s best record, and they are all alone in first place in the top-heavy American League East.

“As big a deal as media has made out of this, inside the clubhouse ... we have 25 guys who are really good at being professionals,” Gross said. “We don’t take a win or a loss into the next game.

“You don’t have lingering affects. Even the two series in Boston, when we got swept, next day we came back out, and even when we left Boston, we were refocused and ready to play. That’s been the key to having the season we’ve had thus far.”

Gross has had his share of highlights since moving to St. Petersburg.

Three times he has come up in the bottom of the final inning and delivered the game-winning hit.

May 13. The Rays had blown a 1-0 lead in the top of the ninth inning against the New York Yankees and were forced into extra innings. Gross came up with a runner on second base and delivered an RBI single to give the Rays a 2-1 win.

June 1. Against the Chicago White Sox, Gross had a great day. He hit a two-run triple in the middle innings to tie the game at 3, but his biggest hit came in the 10th inning. He led off the inning with a home run, and was mobbed by his teammates as the Rays completed another sweep.

June 21. In interleague play, the Rays trailed Houston 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Gross hit a pinch-hit, two-run double to give the Rays a 4-3 win.

“Just hitting the walk-off, having it happen three times in one year, it’s pretty special to happen, especially on a team that’s contending,” Gross said.

But of all the game-ending hits, his home run against Chicago stands out most.

“That’s pretty special,” Gross said. “Just being able to do that. That’s about as high as you go as a batter.

“The bigger moments always happen on bigger stages. It was the first of my major league career against Chicago. One I will remember forever.

“In the major leagues, to round third base, and have all your teammates waiting on you ready to celebrate with you, it’s just special. I know it happens every day, but it was just special.”

Gross has gotten more opportunities to play in St. Pete than he did in Milwaukee, but he is still a situational starter and defensive replacement. He rarely starts against left-handed pitchers, as his batting average against right-handers is much higher than against lefties.

So, even though he is enjoying his time with the Rays, Gross still has goals he has not yet reached.

“I’m not playing every day, which is one of my goals,” Gross said. “I am getting more opportunities.”