Bridge closure delays Rays' bus ride to Coliseum

OAKLAND -- There were just a handful of Rays hanging out in the clubhouse before Friday night's game against the Athletics.

They were the smart ones.

With the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge closed until Tuesday, many of the Rays found getting from their San Francisco hotel to O.co Coliseum rather difficult.

Outfielder Sam Fuld took the train to Stanford, his alma mater, then took Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to Oakland. He was there a half-hour before the bus that left San Francisco at 2 p.m. finally arrived -- at 3:44 p.m.

"I didn't know anything until some guy came up to me and asked if we were taking BART because of the bridge being closed," outfielder Matt Joyce said. "I figured we'd just take the bus and get here in 45 minutes."

Instead it turned into a trip many would rather forget.

"It takes you back to when you took those hour-or-so bus rides in high school or college," Joyce said. "It wasn't the most enjoyable bus ride. I got a lot of reading done. I guess the guys are agitated and ready to play."

Friday's starting pitcher, David Price, took a car service and regularly tweeted updates on his ride.

"I'm taking BART back," he posted, still clearly a bit disgruntled.

"I didn't know the bridge was out," Rays infielder Ben Zobrist said. "I've taken BART before."

Saturday's starter, Alex Cobb, took BART along with reliever Jesse Crain.

"I was thinking ahead," he said. "They told us at the hotel, and I just followed Jesse because he's a veteran and knows the area."

Fuld dropped in on his Stanford coach, Mark Marquess, but found most of the campus in lockdown, though several teams are currently in season. Classes don't start until later next month.