Wander Franco and Harold Ramirez every had two hits together with a house run, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Washington Nationals 7-2 on Wednesday.

The Rays improved to 6-0 and prolonged one of the best begin in franchise historical past. They are off to one of the best begin of any staff since Baltimore opened 7-0 in 2016 and are the primary staff to win its first six video games by 4 or extra runs for the reason that 1884 St. Louis Maroons received their first 13 by at the least 4 runs.

“We’ve got some real serious magic on this team,” reliever Ryan Thompson mentioned after closing out the win. “I think a lot of us could start to feel it in spring training. It’s hard to explain. I just feel like the vibe is just a little unique this year versus what I’ve felt in the past.”

Taylor Walls and Randy Arozarena had two hits every for Tampa Bay, which has outscored opponents 44-13.

Shane McClanahan (2-0) allowed two runs on 5 hits and 4 walks over six innings, permitting at the least one baserunner in each inning however the sixth. He struck out six.

“There’s something real nice about when you settle in and cruise a little bit, but it’s not as sweet as the ones where you’ve really got to earn it,” McClanahan mentioned. “I had to battle and it was a fist fight and kudos to these guys in this locker room for having my back and fighting with me.”

McClanahan was aided by Arozarena, whose leaping catch on Joey Meneses saved a run within the first. Then Manuel Margot made a diving catch in proper with a person on to finish the seventh.

Victor Robles had two hits for the Nationals, who've misplaced 5 of their first six video games.

“We’re gonna get better. There’s no doubt about that,” supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “There’s a lot of baseball left. Of course, I want to win every day, but I’m not gonna put any onus on the first week of the season.”

Washington starter Patrick Corbin (0-2) gave up six runs on 10 hits over six innings.

The Rays broke open a detailed sport within the sixth. Corbin had retired 11 in a row earlier than Ramirez lined a homer to middle with two outs. Margot then singled, stole second and scored when centerfielder Robles misplaced Walls fly ball within the solar for a double. Walls scored on a single by Jose Siri to make it 6-2.

The Rays took a 3-1 lead within the third when Yandy Diaz singled and Franco adopted with a line-drive homer into the Rays bullpen in left middle.

A single by Michael Chavis scored Meneses to make it 3-2 within the fourth. Washington then loaded the bases with no outs, however McClanahan retired Robles on a brief fly to proper, and struck out CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas.

“He reaches back, gets a little bit extra, gets a little bit nastier, knowing the game’s on the line right there,” supervisor Kevin Cash mentioned of McClanahan. “From that point he went and got two more innings. … Really, really impressed with Shane.”

The fourth inning was one other instance of Washington’s struggles with runners in scoring place and so they completed the sport 3 for 12.

“We’ve got to start hitting with guys on base,” Martinez mentioned. “We had a chance to blow the game open. Bases loaded, not outs and we couldn’t get a run So we’ve got to start driving in runs.”

BOTH SIDES OF THE PITCH CLOCK

Thompson turned the primary Rays pitcher to file a strikeout by way of a batter timer violation when strike three was known as on Ildemaro Vargas within the ninth. Two batters later the worm turned as a ball was known as for Robles when Thompson began to come back set earlier than Robles was engaged and the clock was above eight seconds. Robles ultimately walked.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Zach Eflin (1-0, 1.80), who allowed one run over 5 innings in his Rays debut, pitches the opener of a three-game collection in opposition to visiting Oakland on Friday.

Nationals: RHP Josiah Gray (0-1, 9.00), who gave up 5 runs in opposition to the Braves on Saturday, pitches the opener of a four-game collection at Colorado.

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