With 13-0 start, undefeated Tampa Bay Rays tie modern MLB record

They’ve faced just about everything now – attrition, untimely injuries, mid-game deficits. And none of it can stop the Tampa Bay Rays, who have equaled the greatest start in modern Major League Baseball history.

Down two runs and reeling after their dominant starting pitcher left Thursday’s game early, the Rays responded with a vengeance, scoring seven fifth-inning runs to stun the Boston Red Sox 9-3 for their 13th straight victory to start the season.

The Rays go for a record 14-0 start on Friday night at Toronto when they open a three-game series at Rogers Centre.

But for now, Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe and Co. are shoulder-to-shoulder with Robin Yount and Paul Molitor from the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers, and Dale Murphy and Bob Horner of the 1982 Atlanta Braves. They were the only clubs in the modern era to start 13-0.

That is, until the Rays batted around in a wild fifth inning on a day they seemed most vulnerable during this streak.

A look at how they did it and what’s next:

Ailing arms, willing replacements

The club’s first sign of vulnerability came Monday, when starter Zach Eflin reported back pain that resulted in his placement on the injured list. No problem: Top prospect Taj Bradley stepped in with aplomb, winning his major league debut Wednesday for victory No. 12.

Yet when lefty Jeffrey Springs – who’d given up just one run in his first 16 innings this season – indicated pain in his arm after throwing a fourth-inning pitch – the streak’s end seemed near.

Springs would exit the game with ulnar neuritis in his throwing arm and Boston took a 3-1 lead in the fifth, with Rays manager Kevin Cash forced to glue together a bullpen relay to finish the game.

They were up for the task.

Unheralded Kevin Kelly and Braden Bristo – the latter making his major league debut – combined to pitch 5 ⅔ innings and give up just one run. Bristo took down the last nine outs to earn a save in his debut.

And the offense would once again flex its muscle in stunning fashion.

Unstoppable attack

Thanks in part to a questionable decision by Red Sox manager Alex Cora, the Rays roared back with a seven-run fifth inning, sending 11 men to the plate. Harold Ramirez would start and finish the rally with doubles, delivering the biggest blow, a bases-clearing hit that stretched the lead to 8-3.

Along the way, the Rays racked up an RBI bunt single from Manny Margot and a game-tying hit from Brandon Lowe, whose plate appearance prompted Cora to lift starter Corey Kluber.

Curious call: Lowe had struck out all seven times he’d faced Kluber.

Instead, Lowe tied it off reliever Richard Bleier and the Rays were back in boat-race mode.

Hitting history

While the Rays are notably a pitching-first organization, the offense has been utterly unstoppable in this run.

Lowe would add a seventh-inning home run, giving him five homers in his last five starts. Yandy Diaz also hit a leadoff homer and the Rays have clubbed 32 homers, equaling the 2019 Mariners for most home runs through 13 games since 1901.

And that fifth inning was no anomaly.

It was the fifth time the club has batted around in its 13 victories. And consider this: Just twice the Rays have faced two-run deficits in this run – Thursday and on April 4 at Washington. They responded by outscoring those opponents 14-0 the rest of the game.

Their run differential through 13 games: 101-30, the highest run differential through 13 games since 1884.

Next victim?

Oh, the going should get tougher in Toronto, where their AL East rivals will be waiting. But don’t bet against No. 14: Friday’s starter, Drew Rasmussen, has been just as dominant as Springs, starting his season with 13 scoreless innings. Toronto right-hander Jose Berríos will bring an 11.17 a 6.75 ERA into the game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tampa Bay Rays' undefeated streak reaches 13, tying MLB record