Rays Dominating Start Stretches To 13-0 With A Four-Game Sweep Against The BoSox

By Lily Belcher

No one knows what the Rays were drinking this off season, but we do know this, they can’t stop winning. A 9-3 victory over the Red Sox Thursday afternoon gave the Rays their 13th straight wins and third sweep to start the season off undefeated, tying the modern-day record for the best start.

The record breaking 2023 Rays have clicked on all fronts, with strong pitching, elite defense and hot bats that have shocked Rays fans.

“When you do something like that, you’re playing really well. There’s not one part of our game right now that we don’t feel good about,” said Kevin Cash.

The four-game series against Boston proved to be a challenge for the dominating Rays as they lost a nine-game streak of winning by at least four runs. Still, Tampa Bay managed to pull together close victories against the BoSox, relying on key, late-game hits by Brandon Lowe, Harold Ramirez and Randy Arozarena.

This season, the Rays have hit 32 homeruns, leading the league. Their 32 dingers is just one shy of the record held by the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals and 2019 Seattle Mariners.

Thursday’s matinee game set a franchise record for the longest win streak at any point in the season, previously held by the 2004 Devil Rays. However, it wasn’t looking good for the Rays, who were trailing 3-1 and had just lost their pitcher, until they posted a seven run fifth inning.

A pair of RBI base hits by Francisco Mejia and Lowe tied the game at three with two outs. Arozarena singled and Franco took an 86-mph cutter to the forearm to load the bases for pinch hitter Manuel Margot. On the first pitch, Margot laid a two-out bunt down the third base line, something not even Kevin Cash expected.

“We got momentum, and it seemed like it was just going to continue to roll. I mean [Margot’s] at bat, a bases-loaded bunt, it certainly shocked me,” said Cash.

A bases-clearing, three RBI double capped the Rays scoring of the inning to give Tampa Bay a comfortable lead against their American League foes.

Starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs became the second Rays starter to undergo an injury, leaving the game with left arm ulnar neuritis in the third inning. Before his second start of the season, he hadn’t allowed a long ball from opponents bats and had a 13-inning scoreless streak, tied with Drew Rasmussen for the third longest by a starting pitcher in Rays history. He will join Zach Eflin (lower back tightness) on the bench, potentially making room for rookie Taj Bradley.

Bradley made his MLB debut Wednesday night on his mother’s birthday. The 22-year-old righty tossed five innings with eight K’s, looking cool and composed on the mound. Although he was promptly sent back down to AAA (as expected), he may earn a more permanent spot in the rotation if Eflin or Springs’ injuries persist past the expected week.

“I was pretty calm in the locker room,” said Bradley. “…But, going out onto the field, all the fans know your name, saying ‘go get ‘em’ and all that, my heart started going a little bit. After the first batter, I kind of settled in, but I was still in a rush running out there.”

With three series down and 48 to go, the Rays will travel to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays, who are currently tied for second in the AL East with the New York Yankees.

Rasmussen will take the bump Friday night at 7:07 against the 8-5 Blue Jays, with hopes to continue his own 13 consecutive scoreless innings.