ST. PETERSBURG -- If Evan Longoria's two-run homer in the second inning on Opening Day looked familiar, it was for good reason. The blast was like a snapshot of his epic Game 162 home run on the final day of the 2011 season that thrust the Rays into the playoffs.
Sunday's home run, which gave the Rays a 5-2 lead, came against the Yankees -- the same team the Rays played in the 2011 regular-season finale, when they overcame a 7-0 deficit -- and the ball found the cutout in Tropicana Field's left-field corner just as it did in Game 162.