Tampa Bay Rays set historic MLB milestone not achieved since 1884
Led by talismanic outfielder Randy Arozarena, the Tampa Bay Rays have become the first MLB team in 139 years to get off to such a hot start
What an exciting start we have to the 2023 Major League Baseball season.
At the end of the first two series around the league, there is only one team that remains unsullied, with a perfect 6-0 record: The Tampa Bay Rays.
Not a team of standout stars, the Rays exert their strength in teamwork, managing to accumulate a collective ERA of 2.00 over the first six matches, while simultaneously scoring more runs than anyone else in MLB. Tampa are literally doing everything right on both sides of the plate.
“It’s team baseball. Every way you look at it, team baseball,” said pitcher Shane McClanahan about their winning formula.
Through their first six games, the Tampa Bay Rays have accumulated a total of 44 runs while only allowing 13.
They have also managed to maintain at least a four-run difference with all opponents.
When taken collectively, this is the longest winning streak by four or more runs to start a season since way back in 1884, when the St. Louis Maroons managed it 13 times.
“To win the first six games in a row, a lot of people have to get it right,” manager Kevin Cash said.
There is a good chance that the Rays can extend this streak, facing the less-than-impressive Oakland A’s in a three-game series over the weekend. After that, they face the Red Sox, who, for all their talent, are struggling to get their machine firing this season at 2-4. While toppling the Maroons’ record is a long shot, it is not at all beyond the realms of possibility.