ST. PETERSBURG — The Tampa Bay Rays hit four home runs Monday in their 7-6 victory against the visiting Baltimore Orioles to extend their home run total for the season to a franchise record 193.
The previous best was 190, set in 2006.
“Breaking the club record is pretty cool,” Ben Zobrist said. “It’s nice to know we have that much power on the team.”
Gabe Kapler tied the club record with a solo home run with one out in the first inning. One out later Zobrist made it 191 home runs with an opposite field shot into the right field seats.
Evan Longoria added a solo home run in the fourth, and Willy Aybar hit his first pinch-hit home run of his career in the seventh to start the Rays comeback and tie the score at 6-6.
The Rays are just the third team in major league history and the second in the American League to have at least 193 homers and 185 stolen bases in the same season. The 1996 Rockies are the only team with more than 200 homers (221) and steals (201). The 1998 Blue Jays had 221 home runs and 184 steals.
The record for home runs in a season by a team is 264, set by the 1997 Mariners. The 2005 Rangers hit the most this decade with 260.
The Rays are trying to join the Yankees, Rangers, Red Sox and Phillies as the only teams with 200 or more home runs this season.
The 25 club
Zobrist’s home run was his 25th of the season. The Rays have three players with at least 25 home runs for the first time in team history. Carlos Peña has 39 and Longoria has 32.
The Rays are the seventh team with at least three players with 25 homers, joining the Yankees (four), Phillies (four), Red Sox (three), Rangers (three), Twins (three) and Tigers (three).
More Zoby
His 25 homers are the most by a switch-hitter in team history. Zobrist is one of five American League switch-hitters in the last five years to hit at least 25 home runs. The others are Mark Teixeira (three times), Nick Swisher (twice), Kendry Morales and Victor Martinez.
One more Zorilla note
Zobrist’s started at first base Monday means he has started at eight different positions this season: first, second, shortstop, third base, left field, center field, right field and designated hitter. He won’t start a game as a pitcher. How about catcher?
No way, Zobrist said.
Rays manager Joe Maddon has told Zobrist he could take the super-utility job to new heights if he moves behind the plate, but Zobrist wants nothing to do with catching.
“Given his performance this season, I think he’s comfortable saying no,” Maddon said.
Niemann hits the wall
Rays rookie Jeff Niemann was flat Monday, lasting only 3 1/3 innings against the Orioles.
“He was totally out of sync,” Maddon said. “Nothing wanted to work. He just had no command.”
Niemann made 29 starts this season and appeared in 30 games — both season-highs for the big right-hander. His 175 2/3 innings pitched are also a career-high, almost 30 more than last season.
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