Randy Arozarena Tampa Bay Rays record

Randy Arozarena set an MLB record with a first-inning home run, then bookended that home run with a clutch hit in extra innings for a walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox.

Arozarena’s two-run homer off White Sox ace Dylan Cease staked the Rays to an early lead. With that home run, the Rays have now homered in 21 straight games to start the season, setting an all-time MLB record. They had been tied with the 2019 Seattle Mariners for the mark.

Arozarena then gave fans at Tropicana Field the perfect ending to the afternoon, with a line drive single to score Vidal Brujan and give the Rays a 4-3 victory in 10 innings.

Every day seems to bring a new milestone for the red-hot Rays. Some of those marks date back decades. With Saturday’s win, the Rays are now 18-3, tied for the second-best start in MLB’s modern era through 21 games.

The Rays are also off the charts in the home run department. Tampa Bay had hit 45 home runs through their first 20 games, the second-highest in history behind the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals, who hit 47.

Fans have been talking about the Rays for weeks now. Saturday just gave them another opportunity to chime in.

[MLB.com; Photo credit: Fox Sports]

About Arthur Weinstein

Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.