Rays make friends, prep for historic game in Cuba

Diego Lopez holds a ball autographed by Rays pitcher Chris Archer at Estadio Latinoamericano in Havana. ROGER MOONEY/STAFFHAVANA — Diego Lopez walked out of Estadio Latinoamericano on Monday afternoon a fan of the Rays.

“Of course,” said his father, Geovani

Why not?

Diego, who is 9, spent part of the morning playing catch with Rays pitcher Chris Archer.

First they tossed a baseball back and forth. Then the two threw to each other with a little more oomph. Then Archer squatted behind an imaginary home plate in the clay outside the first base dugout, and Diego moved closer and fired away.

Some among the small crowd that gathered to watch clapped and a few women shed tears as nearly every…