ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Zach Eflin pitched five effective innings in his return from injury and the Tampa Bay Rays hit two more home runs Sunday, beating the struggling Chicago White Sox 4-1. to string together 13 home wins to start the season.
Tampa Bay (19-3) tied the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers for the second-longest home winning streak since 1901. The 1907 New York Giants started with 15 straight home wins.
Luke Raley and Harold Ramirez homered for the Rays, who have homered in each of their first 22 games, extending their major league record. Tampa Bay has 48 home runs, the second-most in major league history through the first 22 games, behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (52).
Eflin (3-0) allowed one run and three hits in a game that lasted just 2 hours, 2 minutes. He had been on the disabled list with a stiff lower back for more than two weeks.
Tampa Bay has outscored its rivals 149-61.
For the White Sox, the Dominican Eloy Jimenez 3-1 with a run produced. The Cuban Luis Robert Jr. from 4-1. Venezuelans Elvis Andrus 3-0 and Lenyn Sosa 3-0.
For the Rays, Colombian Harold Ramírez 4-1 with a run scored and an RBI. Panamanian Christian Bethancourt 3-1 with a run scored. The Dominicans Wander Franco 3-1 and Manuel Margot 3-0. Mexican Isaac Paredes 2-0 with a run scored. Cuban Randy Arozarena 2-0.
