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Rays Are Best In Baseball

Tribune photo by ROBERT BURKE

The Rays' Scott Kazmir, with veins popping, throws hard against the Texas Rangers.

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By MARC LANCASTER

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 27, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Baseball has been played for so long that it's truly a feat to accomplish something that has never been done before.

The Tampa Bay Rays did that Monday, beating the Rangers 7-3 hours after the Diamondbacks lost at Atlanta to claim the best record in baseball at 31-20. In doing so, the Rays became the first team in modern baseball history, dating to 1900, to have the best record in the game through Memorial Day after finishing with the worst record among all teams the previous year.

Forget the it-hasn't-been-done-in-108-years part of the equation and take it at face value. The Rays aren't guaranteed anything by standing where they do today, but with June fast approaching, it has become increasingly difficult to envision the bottom completely dropping out of what they have built to this point.

Their defense has been outstanding, and they added a few more highlights to that reel Monday. Their pitching has been just about as good, and it could get even better if Scott Kazmir keeps pitching the way he did in striking out 10 Rangers hitters. And their hitting, at long last, appears to be coming together.

"We've been playing good enough so far," said Carl Crawford. "We just want to keep playing good and be consistent. We know that a lot of people think we're probably going to fade at the end or something. We just want to show people it's no fluke, because the guys that we have taking the mound every night are guys that can get it done every night, and the same thing for the position players. We just want to try to keep it going."

The Rays demonstrated how dangerous they can be by the way they handled about the only team in the majors that has been as hot as them lately. Texas came to Tropicana Field unbeaten in its last nine series and tied with the Red Sox for the AL lead in runs scored.

Kazmir made them look pedestrian, striking out seven of the first nine batters he faced on the way to his 15th career double-digit strikeout game. The rest of the pitchers in Rays history have combined for just 13 more double-digit strikeout performances.

He limited them to three hits and a run in his seven innings, with two of those hits coming from the bottom of the Rangers' order, Marlon Byrd and Ramon Vazquez, to open the sixth. Byrd's single and Vazquez's double - both hard-hit - put men on second and third and it looked like Ian Kinsler had swung the momentum when he sent a screamer toward the left-field corner.

But Crawford saved the day by tracking it down - "He outran that baseball," Manager Joe Maddon said - and limiting the Rangers to a sacrifice fly. Dioner Navarro then gunned Vazquez down on an ill-considered attempt to steal third and Kazmir was most of the way out of the inning and his best start yet in 2008.

"The slider was way better today than the last two outings," said Navarro. "He's getting there. He's going to be good for us this year."

The Rays' lineup appears to be reaching the form most had expected of it as well. Monday, the hitters produced from top to bottom, with every starter collecting at least one hit (16 total). Navarro and Carlos Pena tallied three hits apiece while Eric Hinske provided the big blow with a three-run homer in the fifth.

Hinske's drive and the path to it were indicative of the Rays' ability to get on a roll when everyone is locked in. Cliff Floyd started it off in improbable fashion with an infield single to third, hustling down the line despite the protests of his recently repaired right knee. Navarro followed with a walk and Hinske figured Rangers starter Sidney Ponson would be looking to get ahead on him. He looked fastball with the first pitch, got one, and hammered it 397 feet to right for a 5-0 Rays lead.

Not that Monday night was perfect for the Rays. Only 12,174 fans showed up to watch the festivities, and the home team left a season-high 15 men on base. But they emerged with the best record in the game, and they allowed themselves a pat on the back before getting back to work.

"That's such a cool feeling," said Pena. "We're enjoying it. We understand there is a process, that we've got to go out there and play the game between the lines, but I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying this. This is great."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227 or mlancaster@tampatrib.com.

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