NEW YORK — Even the sternest skeptics are starting to realize the Tampa Bay Rays are for real.
"There's no reason for people to not think that. We're capable of this, as we've shown," Josh Lowe said after homering with a career-high five RBIs Thursday night in a 8-2 rout of the New York Yankees.
Drew Rasmussen (4-2) extended his scoreless streak against the Yankees to 21 innings, and Tampa Bay became the first team to open 30-9 since the 2001 Seattle Mariners. The Rays won three of four from the Yankees in a seven-day span, opening a nine-game AL East lead.