Rays manager Joe Maddon jokes about shirtless fan on field who delayed Mariners-Rays game

By AP
Saturday, May 15, 2010

Fan runs onto field during Mariners-Rays game

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have baseball’s best record. Now, manager Joe Maddon is offering another barometer of the team’s success.

Saturday’s game against the Seattle Mariners was interrupted briefly during the ninth inning by a shirtless fan who climbed out of the stands and ran into center field with stadium security personnel in pursuit.

Play was held up for about 3 minutes, then resumed after the man was tackled and removed from the field.

“It’s always a sign of having made it, in a sense, when you start getting streakers or semi-streakers during a game,” Maddon said. “I don’t think they streak at last-place teams’ games.”

Saturday’s 3-2 victory improved Tampa Bay’s record to 25-11.

Earlier this month, consecutive games at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia were marred by unruly fan behavior.

First, a teenager was Tasered in the outfield after eluding security for about 30 seconds. The next night, a 34-year-old man ran onto the field and gave himself up without incident.

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