Rays rout Athletics, tie best MLB opening in 20 years at 9-0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays matched the most effective begin to a significant league season in 20 years, routing the Oakland Athletics 11-0 Sunday for a 9-0 file as Drew Rasmussen mixed on a one-hitter and Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam.

Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 75-18, scoring probably the most runs within the large leagues and permitting the fewest. The 2003 Kansas City Royals had been the earlier staff to begin 9-0.

The Rays have gained each sport by 4 or extra runs, trailing solely a 13-game run by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association because the longest at a season’s begin. The streak is the longest at any level of a season since 10 by the 1939 New York Yankees.

The longest successful streak at a season’s begin is 13 by the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers.

Oakland has misplaced seven of 9. The Athletics had been outscored 22-0 within the closing two video games of the collection and restricted to 4 hits, dropping their batting common to .192.

Wander Franco and Harold Ramírez additionally homered for the Rays, who’ve hit an enormous league-leading 24 occasions.

Rasmussen (2-0) allowed his solely runner on Ramon Laureano’s two-out double within the second and has given up three hits over 13 scoreless innings in two begins. He struck out eight and walked none.

Ryan Thompson acquired three straight outs, and Jason Adam labored round a leadoff stroll within the ninth.

James Kaprielian (0-1) allowed seven runs, seven hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings. Oakland pitchers walked seven and hit two batters.

Lowe’s drive was the one hit within the fourth to depart the infield as Tampa Bay took a 5-0 lead.

Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch beginning the fourth, and Ramírez was credited with a single when third baseman Jace Peterson checked out second after fielding a ball and threw late to first.

Christian Bethancourt reached on a two-out fielder’s alternative when Ramírez beat Aledmys Díaz’s throw to second base from deep within the shortstop gap. Lowe then related for his third profession slam.

Paredes drew a two-out stroll within the fifth and got here on Ramírez’s homer.

Randy Arozarena had an RBI single in a two-run sixth that was arrange when second baseman Tony Kemp caught a pop-up by Franco however threw to an undercovered first base making an attempt to double up Lowe.

Franco had a solo shot within the first.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: OF Seth Brown didn’t play after feeling facet discomfort on a check-swing on Saturday.

Rays: INF Taylor Walls (left elbow) will endure checks Monday. … RHP Tyler Glasnow (left indirect) might throw off a mound subsequent week.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP JP Sears (0-0) will face Baltimore RHP Kyle Gibson (2-0) on Monday evening.

Rays: LHP Josh Fleming (0-0) and Boston RHP Nick Pivetta (0-1) are Monday evening’s starters.