ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Matt Garza gave up one run over six sharp innings, Jason Bartlett and Reid Brignac drove in three runs apiece and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 11-1 on Thursday night.
The Rays, at 17-5, are off to the majors best start after 22 games since the 2003 San Francisco Giants opened that season 18-4. Tampa Bay has won 14 of 16, outscoring opponents 117-44 during the stretch.
Garza (4-1) scattered five hits, walked two and struck out nine. The right-hander improved to 1-4 in seven career games against the Royals.
Alberto Callaspo had two hits off Garza, including a fourth-inning solo homer. He has four hits in six career at-bats against the Tampa Bay starter.
Royals catcher Jason Kendall caught his 1,928th game, moving past Jim Sundberg into sixth place on the career list.
Bartlett hit a two-run run triple and Carl Crawford drove in a run with another triple during a five-run second against Luke Hochevar (2-1) that put the Rays ahead 5-0. Pat Burrell, who has 13 RBIs over his last nine games, and Brignac each had run-scoring singles.
Bartlett is 11-for-20 with runners in scoring position this season.
Brignac drove in two with a single, Carlos Pena had an RBI single and Bartlett contributed a run-scoring grounder as the Rays went up 9-0 in the third.
Hochevar lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs and 11 hits. The Royals have lost seven of 10.
John Jaso extended the Rays' advantage to 10-1 with an RBI single in the fourth. Ben Zobrist had a run-scoring single during the seventh.
It was the first meeting between the teams this year. Tampa Bay won nine of 10 games against the Royals last season.
Notes
Tampa Bay C Dioner Navarro was available after completing a two-game suspension for bumping an umpire, but Rays manager Joe Maddon opted to start Jaso, who has 10 RBIs in 10 games this season. "It's not very complicated," Maddon said. "Jaso, he's hot." … Kansas City OF Rick Ankiel (strained right quadriceps) was out of the lineup for the fifth consecutive game. … Jose Guillen, who was the DH for the Royals first 21 games this season, started in right field. … Tampa Bay LHP J.P. Howell (strained left shoulder) was fine one day after his first bullpen session. He is expected to be out until late May. .. Kansas City manager Trey Hillman said 2B Chris Getz (strained right oblique) probably will be activated from the 15-day DL on Friday.