Toronto Puts an End to Tampa Bay’s Record-Tying Win Streak

The longest successful streak to open a season in over three a long time led to Canada on Friday because the Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3, at Rogers Centre. The Rays had gained their first 13 video games of the season, tying the trendy period document for greatest begin to a season, which was set by the 1982 Atlanta Braves and matched by the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers.

The loss ensured that 1884 St. Louis Maroons will proceed to face alone with the best begin in main league historical past, as they started the Union Association’s solely season with a spotless 20-0 document.

The Rays had been so dominant that successful 20 straight nearly appeared attainable. After they gained their thirteenth recreation on Thursday, Manager Kevin Cash stated there was no a part of their recreation that they weren’t blissful about.

But on Friday, the Rays appeared like a special crew with sloppy protection, imprecise pitching and an incapacity to get hits in vital moments.

“Not much went our way tonight,” Cash informed reporters in Toronto.

Now Tampa Bay, which even after a loss has nonetheless outscored their opponents by a mixed 68 runs this season, has to verify to not repeat the destiny that befell the ’87 Brewers. A month after successful their first 13 video games, the Brewers went on a 12-game dropping streak.

Any hope the Rays had of creating a brand new trendy period document disintegrated throughout a three-batter stretch within the fifth inning. Colin Poche, a reduction pitcher, walked two batters on 9 pitches with the bases loaded.

“One strike in your nine pitches, it’s just not competitive,” Poche stated.

Then the second baseman Brandon Lowe made an error that price two extra runs. Poche induced a bouncer to quick, however Lowe did not catch a routine throw from the shortstop Wander Franco that might have resulted in an inning-ending double play.

Dante Bichette went 5 for five for the Blue Jays and his run-scoring double within the second inning was his five hundredth hit in 407 profession video games. No different Blue Jay participant has reached 500 hits in that few video games. George Springer hit a leadoff residence run towards Drew Rasmussen, who turned the primary Tampa Bay pitcher to lose this season.

It was Tampa Bay’s first common season loss since Oct. 5, 2022 at Boston, the final common season recreation of that season (the Rays went on to lose each video games of their wild-card collection towards the Cleveland Guardians).

Lowe stated the defeat didn’t really feel worse than another in the course of the course of a season.

“Every win is great,” he stated. “Every loss is terrible.”