ST. PETERSBURG — Except, maybe, when they are putting their first baseman on the mound, pitching has been the key to the Rays' most recent run of success.
The five-game winning streak against the Yankees and Nationals includes three shutouts and a 22-inning scoreless streak they will take into Thursday's series opener with the Astros, and their MLB-most 53 wins.
"The pitching's been outstanding, keeping us in every single ballgame,'' manager Kevin Cash said. "It's kind of how we're built. We've got to take advantage of it when we get it. And we're getting it here of late.