Despite the Tampa Bay Rays’ 2-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox Friday night, the sun still rose today.

Did it ever.

No matter how many degrees the thermometer says, sitting in the black asphalt parking lot outside of Tropicana Field, the only thing you need to know is ‘hot.’

But Stuart Dienes and Bernie Garbinsky of Spring Hill were not deterred, “We’re from here,” Garbinsky said, noting that she’s used to the heat. The couple was among the first tailgaters in the lot and staked out a shady spot under a tree, one of the few, where they even found a hint of a breeze.

Weather aside, and undeterred by the Friday night defeat, they came to cheer on the Rays – after a few hours of revelry, of course.

“Oh, they’re going to win,” Garbinsky said. “Definitely.”

“If not, it’s still been a great year,” Dienes said.

Original Rays fans, they remember a few years back being among 800 or so people who ventured to the Rays–Kansas City game during a storm watch. They were looking forward to the 36,000 plus expected at tonight’s sold out game.

They still have plenty of time to wait. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. No worries, they said, they were off to Ferg’s Bar and Grill for some cold ones, and had sandwiches of their own packed in the truck.

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