The Tampa Bay Rays made history Tuesday in becoming the first Major League Baseball team to play in Cuba since 1999, defeating the Cuban national team 4-1.
The historic afternoon took place in front of Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro, and while the event was good and fun for many who participated, the ending was particularly rough for the Rays.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported that the team had a long delay in leaving the island, as mechanical issues sidelined the team’s plane.
Rays pitcher Chris Archer tweeted at nearly 3 a.m. that the team had been stuck on the runway going on six hours:
Archer provided some updates, and also noted that the shower at Estadio Latinoamericano was not working, so there were a bunch of players that smelled less than great.
The team finally made it back in the U.S. at 5 a.m., seven hours for a one hour trip. Certainly that’s not the way any of them envisioning it ending, but at least they made it home safe.