'We are the best': Díaz backs words, red-hot Rays with 2 HRs vs. MLB-best Tigers

TAMPA -- After the Rays’ incredible comeback victory over the Orioles on Wednesday night, veteran Yandy Díaz confidently stated, “I think right now we are the best team in MLB.”

This weekend could test that theory as the Rays, inarguably the hottest team in baseball, host a Tigers club with the Majors’ best record. But Friday night’s series opener did nothing to dispel Díaz’s declaration.

Díaz went deep twice in only the second multihomer game of his career, and the Rays rode another all-around offensive outburst to a 14-8 win over the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. It was their third-highest-scoring performance of the season and the seventh time in their last 25 games that they put up double-digit runs.

“I think that we just show up against good teams. We have kind of found our identity,” starter Shane Baz said. “They're kind of a complete team also, and I think it just speaks to what we can do.”

The Rays (42-34) improved to an MLB-best 21-8 dating back to May 20, with a plus-81 run differential that’s more than double the next-best mark in the Majors during that span. They’re only 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees (43-32) for first place in the American League East. And they’re continuing to show that, as Saturday starter Ryan Pepiot said Friday afternoon, they’re “not scared of anybody.”

The Rays are 25-20 against teams with a winning record this season.

“I feel like we want to challenge ourselves against the best teams, because that's ultimately who we're going to play in the playoffs,” infielder Curtis Mead said. “It's been a pretty cool run to be a part of.”

This is the Rays’ sixth series against a team that entered leading its division, and they won each of the last three -- on the road, no less -- against the Padres, Yankees and Mets. It’s also the second time in their last three series that they’re facing a club that entered with the Majors’ best record, and they swept the Mets last weekend at Citi Field.

So, what does that say about the Rays?

“It means that we're a good team,” Díaz said through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “To me, for the past month, we've been the best team in baseball.”

Díaz had the biggest night at the plate for Tampa Bay. After a 50-minute rain delay and a scoreless first inning by Baz, Díaz smacked his franchise-record 19th career leadoff home run out to right-center field off Tigers starter Jack Flaherty.

He went deep again in the fifth, this time off reliever Chase Lee, for his first two-homer performance in the regular season since May 11, 2019, and his third overall when including the 2019 AL Wild Card Game.

The three-hit night extended a torrid stretch for Díaz, who is batting .468 (22-for-47) during an 11-game hitting streak. During that time, he has improved his average from .239 to .277 and his OPS from .681 to .788.

“I simply feel good,” he said. “I'm trying not to think too much when I go to the batter's box, and you guys are seeing the results.”

But it was hardly just Díaz. As has often been the case over the past month, the Rays’ contributions came from everywhere. Everyone in the lineup recorded at least one hit for the fifth time this season, and all of those games have come within the past month.

“I don't think it would even matter what order we put people in right now,” said Baz, who remained unbeaten in his last six starts after giving up five runs while pitching into the sixth inning. “Everyone's just doing so well at the plate.”

Giving Junior Caminero a rare night off at third base, Mead had two hits, three walks and three runs. He has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 starts since May 8, with a .375 average, a 1.068 OPS and four multihit games in that span, seemingly hitting his stride despite sporadic playing time.

“It's definitely challenging, and there's definitely some days that I don't feel like doing the [work in the cage],” Mead said. “But I think just staying consistent with that is ultimately going to lead to me feeling the most comfortable when I do get the opportunities.”

Backup catcher Matt Thaiss had a career-high-tying three hits while driving in four runs from the seventh spot in the order. Taylor Walls had a pair of hits and two RBIs while batting eighth, and Kameron Misner matched that from the No. 9 spot.

“Seems like, when our offense got going, we started getting some really solid contributions from that part of the lineup to turn it over,” manager Kevin Cash said. “And they just haven't looked back since.”