Maile met with silence after thunderous blast

ST. PETERSBURG — It was right about when Luke Maile got to second base that he realized what was coming.

He already had the exhilaration of hitting a tape-measure home run — the first of his Major League career — that was projected by Statcast™ to have traveled 428 feet in the Rays’ 8-2 win on Saturday. And he had the pleasure of not questioning whether it would be a home run as he left the batter’s box. But when he got to second base, he realized that the silent treatment would be waiting for him in the dugout.

He thought back to Richie Shaffer last season, high-fiving the air as his teammates ignored him. Maile didn’t think he had that in him. Instead he went back into the dugout and waited with an awkward grin on his face until everyone else came to hug and congratulate him.

“I thought it was awesome,” Maile said. “It was just so cool to be a part of that. And finally get on the board in the Major Leagues with a home run. It’s hard to …

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