Rays demolish Athletics to match best start of MLB season in 20 years

The Tampa Bay Rays thrashed the Oakland Athletics 11-0 to equal the best ever start of the MLB season on Sunday.

Doing things that haven't been seen since the 1800s

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 9, 2023

Drew Rasmussen combined on a one-hitter, while Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam.

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Rasmussen (2-0) allowed his only runner on Ramon Laureano’s two-out double in the second and registered seven innings. James Kaprielian (0-1) allowed seven runs, seven hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings.

With this win the Tampa Bay team has now recorded a ninth consecutive win, in which they have outscored their opponents by 75-18 in total. They have recorded the most runs and have allowed the fewest.

Kansas City Royals are the other team that has achieved 9-0 in the MLB opening back in 2003 and the Rays will be aiming to emulate that in their next outing.

The Athletics, on the other hand, record a 7th defeat out of their 9 games and will be looking to improve on their lacklustre form.