The Los Angeles Dodgers began a two-game series against the Tropicana Field on Tuesday having ended a six-game losing streak behind a stellar performance from Clayton Kershaw.
Tuesday’s meeting was the Dodgers’ first game at Tropicana Field since 2007, and their first against the Rays since sweeping a three-game series from Tampa Bay at Dodger Stadium in 2013. Prior to first pitch, Yasiel Puig and a few of his teammates were approached by Raymond, the Rays’ mascot.
While Raymond was gesturing toward Puig, Kiké Hernandez slid behind the mascot so Puig could push Raymond down. The mascot returned during pregame warmups on Wednesday and brought with him oversized yellow boxing gloves.
After some quick sparring with Hernandez and Howie Kendrick, Raymond faced offseason boxer Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers’ first baseman threw a couple jabs, then took advantage of Raymond becoming distracted by Hernandez.
Upon turning back around to face Gonzalez, the mascot was met with a left hook:
Gonzalez spent a portion of his offseason training in Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. Gonzalez made slight changes to his boxing regimen, namely increasing his number of weekly visits and intensity of his workouts.
Gonzalez went through every training activity a professional boxer does in preparation for a right, with the exception of sparring.
