"If I hit an HR, you can have it" - Jose Siri honors his promise, gifts necklace to a 12-year-old fan after his second homer against Mariners
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri blasted a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. During the tightly contested second game of the series, the Dominican had an exchange with a 12-year-old boy in the stands named Boden which won the hearts of MLB fans across the country. It happended earlier in the game when Boden asked Siri for his necklace, and the Rays star promised to give it to him if he hit a home run.
"If I hit an HR you can have it," said Siri.
He stayed true to his word and handed young Boden his necklace after his two-run blast in the seventh inning.
Jose Siri was initially signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an international free agent in 2012 and spent nine years with them, playing in the minor leagues. He then signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros ahead of the 2021 season and made his MLB debut in September that year. In 2022, Siri was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, where he established himself in the starting lineup.
The Rays started their series against the Seattle Mariners this week with a 5-1 defeat. They then tied the series in the second game thanks to Siri's two-run homer and a solo home run from first baseman Yandy Diaz.
Jose Siri and Tampa Bay Rays lose series against Seattle Mariners after another defeat
While Jose Siri earned the admiration of MLB fans with his heartwarming gesture on Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners recorded a 6-2 victory on Wednesday to take the series.
A Josh Lowe solo homer and a RBI single from Dylan Carson put two runs on the board for the Tampa Bay Rays, but it wasn't enough to get past the Mariners.
Luke Raley started the scoring for the Mariners with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, and was followed by two run homers from both Victor Robles and Julio Rodriguez in fifth. Randy Arozarena then added a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to take the game away from the Rays.