The Tampa Bay Rays extended their season-opening winning streak to 11 games on Tuesday night with a 7-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Brandon Lowe hit his third homer of the season, while Shane McClanahan put together a strong performance on the mound.
Lowe’s home run came in the top of the sixth inning and gave the Rays a comfortable 4-0 lead. The second baseman has been one of Tampa Bay’s most productive hitters this season, batting .378 with an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of 1.250 through 11 games.
Meanwhile, McClanahan went five innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out seven batters. The left-hander is considered one of Tampa Bay’s top pitching prospects and has shown promise early in his major league career.
The win also marked another successful outing for the Rays’ bullpen, which has been dominant so far this season. Through 11 games, Tampa Bay relievers have a combined ERA (earned run average) of just 1.40 and have allowed only four earned runs in total.
Tuesday night’s victory over Boston was particularly impressive given that it came against one of the American League East’s traditional powerhouses. The Red Sox are undergoing something of a rebuilding phase under new manager Alex Cora but still boast plenty of talent on their roster.
With their unbeaten start to the season now stretching into double digits, Tampa Bay will be feeling confident about their chances going forward. However, they will face stiffer tests as they move deeper into their schedule against teams like the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
Historically speaking, such lengthy winning streaks at any point during an MLB season are relatively rare occurrences – especially when factoring in opening day victories – but not entirely unheard-of; many teams throughout baseball history have had similarly impressive starts to campaigns that ultimately fizzled out later down-the-line, while others have gone on to win their respective divisions and/or the World Series.
All told, the Rays’ 11-game winning streak to start the 2021 season is an impressive feat that has put them atop the American League East standings. While there is plenty of baseball left to be played this year, Tampa Bay will undoubtedly feel good about their chances of contending for a playoff spot if they can continue playing at such a high level.