The Tampa Bay Rays matched the best start to the season in the majors since 1900, earning their 13th consecutive win, 9-3 over the Boston Red Sox, on Thursday thanks to a seven-run rally in the fifth. innings, started and finished by Harold Ramírez with doubles.
Tampa Bay (13-0) matched the start of the 1982 Atlanta Braves and the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers. The only longer streak in a season opener was 20-0, by the St. Louis Maroons, but in the Union Association.
The Rays have won every game by four or more runs and have outscored opponents a combined 101-30. This is the highest number of runs scored and the fewest goals scored this season by any team.
In front of 21,175 spectators, the largest crowd at Tropicana Field since the opening game, the Rays set a franchise record for consecutive wins at any point in the season. By June 2004, they had threaded 12 victories.
Boston, limited to four hits, has lost 13 straight games at the Tropicana.
Kevin Kelly (1-0), a 25-year-old right-hander who debuted on April 1, pitched 2 2/3 innings for the win
Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 in the fifth inning. Colombian Ramírez started the big attack with a double against Corey Kluber (0-3) and drove in three runs with another against Richard Bleier.
For the Red Sox, the Mexican Alex Verdugo 4-0. Puerto Rican Kiké Hernández 4-0 with a push.
For the Rays, Cuban Yandy Díaz 4-1 with a run scored and an RBI. The Mexican Randy Arozarena 4-1 with one scored and one produced. Dominicans Wander Franco 3-0 with a run scored, Manuel Margot 2-1 with a run run and an RBI, Francisco Mejía 4-1 with a run run and an RBI. The Colombian Ramírez 4-3 with a run scored and three RBIs.
