Tampa Bay home run lands in 'touch-tank' of rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Tampa Bay Rays player Jose Lobaton has become the first member of the team to hit a home run into the "touch tank" of rays to the right of center field.

Lobaton, the team's backup catcher, hit the home run near the end of the Rays' 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox Monday and the ball went over the fence and into the tank of rays, WTSP-TV, St. Petersburg, Fla., reported Wednesday.

Lobaton became the first Rays player to hit a home run into the tank. The feat had previously been accomplished by Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers and Luis Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Rays said they are making good on their promise to donate $5,000 to the Florida Aquarium for every home run ball that ends up in the tank, and the team said it is donated an additional $5,000 to a charity chosen by Lobaton, The Tampa Children's Home.

Margo McKnight from the Florida Aquarium, which oversees the tank of rays, called the home run hit "exciting." She said the rays were not harmed by the ball.

"We would never allow this or put this here if we thought something bad was going to happen to them or if they were harmed in any way," she said. "This is about educating people. It's amazing, you can see these wild creatures right here in the dome. They actually do quite well in captivity."