The Rays Craze ☀️

04/14/2023 The Rays Craze ☀️

By: Jeff Yoder

Rays Rallies to Beat Red Sox (9-3) & Tie Modern MLB Record for Best Start to a Season (13-0)

Ray it ain’t so! Make it a baker’s dozen for the home-run rakers from Tampa Bay. The Rays — seemingly a daily feature in our coverage these days — found themselves in unfamiliar territory on Thursday night in Tampa. They were trailing the Red Sox by two (3-1) and they had already lost starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs to injury. The response? A seven-run 5th inning to blow the doors off Boston (9-3) for their 13th consecutive win. Brandon Lowe belted a homer. Yandy Diaz did, too. And Harold Ramirez had himself a night (3-for-4, 3 RBIs). Brandon Bristo stepped in relief and delivered three hitless innings down the stretch. Bottom line: Tampa Bay is now 13-0 and tied for the modern MLB record for the best start to a season. Here are some facts about the historic streak that’ll keep raking into the weekend.

 

Rays in the Record Books

The Rays are the fourth team in MLB history to start 13-0, joining the 1987 Brewers (13-0) and 1982 Braves (13-0), but that’s where the modern era streak ends. The 1884 St. Louis Maroons (20-0) hold the all-time record start.

 

Notable Stats From the Start

Tampa Bay has hit 32 home runs to lead the majors, and they have a +71 run differential — the most through 13 games by any team after 1893 when the mound was moved. They’ve led for 111 out of 117 innings this season. It’s also the longest winning streak in Rays franchise history (12 games, June 2004).

 

No matter how you spin it, the Rays are raking homers and throwing heat. They look downright unbeatable over a nine-inning outing. Next up: A weekend series at Toronto and a shot at more history.

 

Watch: Rays Rally to Beat Red Sox & Reach Historic 13-0 Start

Read: Rays Now Chasing A Guy Named Buttercup & 139 Years of History

 

MLB Quick-Hitters

 

Twins Toast Yankees With 9-Run 1st: The Twins walked into New York and opened up a road roasting of the Yankees on Thursday with a 9-run 1st inning before cruising to an 11-2 win. Minnesota’s young prospect Edouard Julien got his first hit in that 1st inning — his first career home run in his first at-bat.

 

Rutschman Adds Walk-Off to Rookie Reel: Adley Rutschman is finding his swing with the Orioles, and Thursday at Camden Yards yielded his biggest moment yet. After the Orioles and A’s had a slugfest result in a 7-7 game, Rutschman smacked a towering walk-off solo shot for Baltimore and a moment he’ll never forget.

 

Tatis Takes Over in Tune-Up: Fernando Tatis Jr. will rejoin the Padres in about a week, and he looks ready to go after last night’s Triple-A tune-up in El Paso. Tatis Jr. had a 5-hit, 3-homer night with 8 RBIs.

 

Photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images