A Win 1,033 Days in the Making

Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan recorded his first Major League win since June 16, 2023 — a span of 1,033 days — pitching five innings in Tuesday night's 8-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. The win extended Tampa Bay's winning streak to four games.

When the final out of the fifth inning was recorded, McClanahan broke down on the mound. "I kind of blacked out after that third out in the fifth inning," he said postgame. "The last three years of emotions — the surgeries, the passing of my dad — just let it out. It was probably the biggest adrenaline dump and emotional release I've had in my entire life."

Two Surgeries and a Loss

McClanahan's absence was about far more than injury. Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2024 season, followed by a nerve issue that kept him off the mound through last year. His father passed away in January, and he carried that grief through his first three starts of 2026.

A Rays official noted the significance of the milestone: "On some level, this feels like the start of the next 10 years of his career. He needed to get the monkey off his back — and he did."

Imperfect but Enough

The outing wasn't clean. McClanahan surrendered a three-run homer to Everson Pereira in the third and has now issued 11 walks in 13.2 innings this season. But he bounced back each time, retiring the side in order in the fourth on just 10 pitches and qualifying for the win in the fifth.

Manager Kevin Cash praised his competitiveness: "He knew where his pitch count was and did everything he could to finish five innings."

Looking Ahead

Once a back-to-back All-Star in 2022 and 2023, McClanahan is still regaining his form. But he left Tuesday night with optimism — and a game ball destined for his mother. "I'm going to give this ball to her," he said.