Blake Snells family, friends recount big night at the Series: It was electric

It’s 6 a.m. Tuesday at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport and Jane Snell can hardly contain her excitement. This is no ordinary road trip for Blake Snell’s mother.

“We’re going to the freaking World Series!” Jane tells her son Tyler, Blake’s twin brother.

With their contingent of family members and close friends, Jane, Tyler and the rest of the group board their Alaskan Airlines flight that is bound for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Jane walks back toward her seat and notices a few Dodgers fans already situated on the plane. She encourages them to root for the Rays, without revealing her son is a former Cy Young winner, Tampa Bay’s ace and upcoming Game 2 starter.

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Upon touching down in Dallas, Jane and the group make the short trip over to Arlington, Texas, where the World Series is being hosted at Globe Life Field. On Wednesday night, they would watch Blake Snell guide the Rays to a 6-4 victory behind his nine strikeouts, helping even the series at one game apiece.

Here is their story, as told by Snell’s World Series cheering section.

2:30 p.m., Tuesday, several hours before the World Series

When the group of 15 arrives at their spacious 5-bedroom Airbnb rental, which Snell purchased for the entire duration of the World Series through next Thursday, mini chaos ensues. A few members of the party jokingly argue about who’s taking which room. The group is made up of Snell’s immediate family members, several close friends and a few former coaches. The Airbnb will serve as the group’s new temporary digs, since they aren’t able to actually be with Snell. The Rays and Dodgers are both limited to the restrictions inside MLB’s bubble. Because of COVID-19 concerns and MLB protocols, players are not allowed to leave the team hotel. They’re also unable to interact with family and friends after games, excluding the limited amount of spouses and children who’ve joined the team inside the bubble. As Snell’s group gets accustomed to its new surroundings, a feeling of unity begins to set in.

Jane Snell, Blake’s mother: We all kind of looked at each other in the living room and we were like, “Holy cow. We’re here.” On the flight over there were a bunch of Dodgers fans. I joked with a bunch of them and asked, “Don’t you want to be Rays fans?” The flight felt a little different. You definitely knew people on it were going to the World Series. You definitely knew it was time for the World Series.

Mitch Dooley, one of Blake’s close friends from Washington: There was so much excitement coming here. Everybody wants him to succeed, and we have our own little group of us being together to support him. After the Rays clinched the ALCS, it felt like we were counting down the days and hours until the World Series. Knowing there would be some fans here and we were going to be part of that, we couldn’t wait.

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Dave Snell, Blake’s father: I try not to get too worked up about getting down here. Wanted to treat it like any other of his games we go to. But I can’t lie, this one felt a little different. A little special.

6 p.m. Tuesday, World Series Game 1

Although it’s about 24 hours before Snell’s start, a few members of the group insist they head to the ballpark early so they can see him on the field during batting practice. Jane drops off about half of the group, while the rest stay and finish getting ready for the game. Jane also utilizes the extra time before the game to stock up on groceries and house essentials for the weeklong stay. 

At the ballpark, Blake’s brothers and several friends find their seats for Game 1, located in the left-field bleachers. The Rays take the field for batting practice and they immediately try to grab Snell’s attention. Snell typically spends a majority of BP shagging balls alongside mental skills coach Justin Su’a from their usual spot in shallow center field. Su’a provides a calming presence to Snell and the pitcher enjoys chatting daily with him. But at this moment, Snell ventures off to left field, where several of his family and friends are located, several rows up. Snell stands near the warning track as he converses with the group above. It’s his first time seeing his loved ones in several months. 

Blake Snell: Having them here, it means everything. Just because of the comfort that they bring. Having them here is amazing. I was actually thinking about that right before the game, it sucks that I can’t go hang out with them and just enjoy that moment and enjoy this moment together. But then being able to see them from batting practice from a distance, that was cool. The thing, though, that sucks the most is not being able to hug them and tell them you love them in person. Having them here watching me play and to see them the whole time, it’s pretty amazing and it’s a special moment for me and my family, for sure.

8:15 p.m., Wednesday, World Series Game 2

Snell has built a reputation for his social media presence. Before every start, Snell regularly posts on Instagram with the same caption: BUMPDAY. He first started the “bumpday” tradition back in the minors, in an effort to remind his brothers that it was his turn to pitch. Instagram post or not, everybody in the group was aware that Wednesday was shaping up to be the biggest bumpday in Snell’s career. The Snell support group takes their seats, separated slightly from each other with pod-style, socially distanced seating in groups of four in box seats along the third-base line. 

Boots (David) Snell, Blake’s younger brother: We were going crazy before the game. It felt like first pitch was taking forever to get here. Me, Dooley and D-Ball (Damian Clarke) all went on a run this morning around Cowboys Stadium to shake off the jitters. I played catch with D-Ball, too. We had that feeling it was going to be a good day.

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Mitch: Naturally, we wanted to get that energy going in the morning and get pumped for the game. We took in the scenery around Cowboys Stadium and the Rangers’ ballpark. There was honestly no better feeling getting up today knowing our guy was taking the mound tonight.

Dave: Me and Blake texted a little bit in the morning, but we treated it like a regular game day. Before the game, some of us went around the entire ballpark and explored. I personally like the old park better than this one. This new place just feels huge. It’s very nice and has a bunch of new touches, but the old Globe Life had a classier, old school ballpark feel. But once we got to our seats, it was go time. I knew right away he was relaxed. That foul ball (pitch No. 9 in the first inning), he grabbed it and tossed it to right back to the bat boy and you could see it in his body movement. He just seemed and looked really confident. I can usually tell by watching him, where he’s at with his stuff.

Tyler Snell, Blake’s twin brother: It was unreal. Being at the All-Star Game, the games back home in Seattle — the World Series was at the top of the bucket list. We checked it off. We couldn’t be prouder of him. We were definitely yelling at the top of our lungs after every inning. He had to have heard us.

Jane: Today was nice because there was a lot of Rays support around us. It’s pretty amazing because you get to see all these different Snell jerseys. I think I saw two or three that I don’t have and now I want them. So many different colored Snell jerseys. One of my favorites I saw, though, it was this jersey where it had Snell spelled vertically on the back from the neck down. It was in baby blue and I had never seen it before. I need one of those. It was just so amazing to see all the Snell jerseys. We’re not used to that. There were a ton of Snell!

Mitch: We were pretty locked in when he was out there. It’s weird, though, actually watching and wanting to pay attention to how he’s doing. It was tough to see exact pitches and where they’re landing, so we had the MLB app on our phones. We knew he was hitting corners and dotting. We all know he’s got plus stuff. But tonight he brought out the plus-plus.

Dave: It was pretty electric. Even though the stadium isn’t full capacity because of COVID, there was a lot of energy in the building tonight.

Blake Snell is bringing it. pic.twitter.com/YuMT0suDqe

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2020

12:15 a.m., Thursday, postgame pizza party and a special FaceTime call

Snell’s stellar outing ends abruptly in the fifth inning when he walks a batter and gives up a 2-run home run, which was Los Angeles’ first hit of the game. He finishes with nine strikeouts, four walks and two hits allowed over 4 2/3 innings, exiting the game with a lead the Rays would not surrender. Snell wasn’t able to get through five, which meant the win was awarded to his replacement, reliever Nick Anderson. Snell’s nine strikeouts tied a record for most strikeouts in an outing lasting shorter than five innings. He also became just the third pitcher in World Series history to record two strikeouts in four consecutive innings within a World Series game (joining Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson). Back at the house, Jane is heating up a pair of frozen pizzas in the oven. The group enjoys a late-night dinner together and celebrate the Rays’ victory.

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Jane: When I’m watching Blake on TV back home, I get so nervous, to the point where I can’t watch. I always have to be doing something to get my mind off the game. During the Astros in the ALCS, I chewed all my nails off. I had none left! I had to four loads of laundry that game, too, to keep me occupied. I can watch other people, I just can’t watch my own son. Being in person is totally different, though. You’re surrounded by all your loved ones and all these fans. We were cheering so loud.

Boots: It was lit seeing Blake shove. The whole bubble thing isn’t ideal for us since we’re not able to see him right now, but it’s nice knowing we’ll all be back together next week. He’s out here on a mission.

Dave: He was aggressive on the hitters instead of trying to be robotic. You could tell him and the coaches had a good game plan and he was sticking to it. His stuff looked good. He could’ve probably gotten to the sixth or seventh inning if he gets a call his way in the fifth and avoids the walk, but you can’t ask for much more. He was locked in. We were feeling really good until that home run.

Mitch: If I had one word to describe it, it would be surreal. I’ve seen Blake pitch plenty of times, but to be surrounded by his family and with knowing what’s going on in the world right now, to be the first couple fans in the stadium, it was surreal.

Tyler: We grow up together and see him pitch at every level. Now we can say he pitched in the World Series.

Damian: It’s one thing to go to the World series. It’s something that as a young baseball player growing up, you want to do no matter what. But going to the yard and watching your boy pitch in the World Series, it’s incomparable. It was crazy, really.

Jane: You know at the very beginning of the year back in January when you and Blake left for Florida for spring training, he told me the night before that he really believed this team had what it took to get to the World Series and he seemed really determined to work. It’s just kinda crazy to see him here, but he almost set the path himself by making it a goal at the beginning of the year. He knew the Rays were capable and had the talent of playing on the biggest stage. … He was right.

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As the conversation picks up across the kitchen and living room, Damian’s phone rings. It’s Snell calling on FaceTime from his hotel room. Damian picks up and puts the phone in front of him for everyone to see. 

Blake Snell: What’d you guys think?

Loud celebrating and hilarity ensues. … It’s nearly impossible to pick up what’s being yelled. Blake asks to see his nephews, Maverick, 6 years old, and Maddox, six months. After Blake FaceTimes briefly with his nephews, the phone gets passed around the group and finds its way back to Damian, Dave and Jane.

Jane, several moments later: We love you Blakey. You made all of us proud.

(Photo of Blake Snell reacting after retiring the side in the fourth inning: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

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