Win Streak Is Nice, But Rays Not Getting Wrapped Up In It

Things were a little different for the Rays on Monday night. Yet, the outcome yielded the same result: a win.

There was plenty of excitement at Tropicana Field against American League East foe Boston. That was especially the case in the eighth inning when Rays lefthanded reliever Colin Poche wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam of his own making. With one out in the bottom half of the inning, Brandon Lowe completed a 10-pitch at-bat against reliever Chris Martin by ripping a pitch into the right field stands for the game’s only run.

Ten was an appropriate number of pitches given Lowe’s blast was the difference in a 1-0 win, the Rays’ tenth straight to begin the season.

While it took until the ninth inning to get the best of the Nationals in win No. 5 last Tuesday evening in the nation’s capital, even that victory (10-6) had some separation going into Washington’s last at bat. Hence, the win Monday evening was far removed from how the Rays won their first nine games. Tampa Bay was the first club since the 1884 St. Louis Maroons to win that many games out of the gate by at least four runs. In fact, the Rays did not have a save opportunity until Monday, one that Pete Fairbanks, with only two appearances coming in, converted rather routinely to run his scoreless streak to 25 innings.

Indeed, it was a playoff-like atmosphere in St. Pete given the game was scoreless into the eighth inning against a division rival and with the Rays seeking to become the first team since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers to open a season with 10 victories. That Brewers team and the 1982 Atlanta Braves hold the modern record (since 1900) with 13 straight wins at the start of a season.

Not that the Rays seem too concerned with any history they have made and may continue to make.

“The only special thing is about when we’re doing it,” said Lowe, who has homered in three straight games and whose 14 homers against Boston are his most against any team. “(The season-opening win streak) is not lost on anybody, but it is not adding any pressure on anybody. It is pretty cool to do it when we’re doing it and how we’re doing it.”

They have done it by hitting an MLB-best 25 home runs – nine players with at least two — and with a pitching staff registering a 1.70 ERA while issuing only 22 walks in the 10 games.

“I am proud of the guys and hopefully it continues,” said manager Kevin Cash. “The good thing about this club is they win, they enjoy it and they’re ready to go the next day.”

It is hard not to be impressed with what has taken place. That is especially the case with the eighth, ninth and tenth wins, which were all shutouts. The Rays, who have outscored the opposition by an eye-opening 76-18, had never posted three consecutive shutouts before. Still, they are not wrapped up in such details. They understand the larger picture of a 162-game schedule is what it ultimately comes down to.

“To tell you the truth, that is last thing we’re concerned about,” Shane McClanahan said of the streak. “We’re concerned about playing hard, going out there and being good teammates. Nothing really changes. You still go out there and play your brand of baseball.”

That brand includes responding to challenges and putting previous outings in the rearview mirror, something Fleming did very well in win No. 10.

The lefty had a rough start in the game Tampa Bay pulled out late at Washington, allowing 10 hits and five runs (all earned) in three innings. Against Boston, he followed opener Jalen Beeks and threw four sparkling innings (one hit, five strikeouts) while facing only one batter over the minimum.

“It was a good bounce back, definitely one I needed,” said the 26-year-old.

It was yet another example of a player, whether position player or pitcher, coming through in a big way these first couple of weeks. Still, a perfect mark it is not something that is dominating the clubhouse.

“We just kind of let our play do the talking,” said Fleming. “We’re not coming in here like, ‘Hey guys, keep the streak going.’ It’s one of those things where you just go out and play, have fun and, obviously, 10 in a row is pretty sweet.”