St. Petersburg, Fla. — Zach Eflin pitched seven scoreless innings, Randy Arozarena hit one of three Rays homers and Tampa Bay beat Pittsburgh 3-2 on Thursday to finish a three-game sweep of small-budget teams off to outstanding starts.
Taylor Walls and Yandy Díaz also homered for Tampa Bay, which at 26-6 is off to the best start through 32 games since the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers went 27-5.
Eflin (4-0) scattered three hits and struck out 10. The right-hander allowed just one baserunner to reach scoring position, when Carlos Santana hit a two-out double in the seventh.