Cash breaks Rays record with 755th win

ST. PETERSBURG -- It’s only May 4, but the champagne was popping after the Rays’ 3-1 win over the Mets at Tropicana Field.

And not just champagne, according to manager Kevin Cash.

“Beer, champagne, shaving cream,” he said. “I think baby powder.”

Cash was still dripping wet when he arrived for the postgame press conference, just minutes after he was feted by his players for his 755th win as Rays manager, setting a franchise record.

The 46-year-old Cash, who signed a multiyear extension prior to this season, passed Joe Maddon as the club’s winningest manager. He owns a .543 winning percentage in 10 seasons on the job. That’s the fifth-best win rate in baseball over that span.

“I've been asked a lot lately, ‘Did you think you'd be here?’ No, I didn't think I'd be here,” Cash said. “I didn't know where I was for two years doing this job, but I had a great support system. Ultimately, it comes down to being fortunate to have a lot of really good players and good teams.”

It also comes down to Cash pushing the right buttons and making a lot of correct decisions at pivotal points in games. He made another one Saturday that proved to be the difference-maker.

Tied at 1 in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs, Cash called upon rookie Austin Shenton to pinch-hit against Mets reliever Adam Ottavino. Shenton entered with a .171 batting average over 40 plate appearances and 13 games. However, he has shown a good batting eye in his debut season, highlighted by a 12.5% walk rate and a 22.2% chase rate. Cash was confident that Shenton would provide a tough at-bat.

He was right -- again.

Shenton engaged in a nine-pitch battle against the 14-year veteran and fouled off four pitches before laying off a low sweeper to force in Richie Palacios from third.

Shenton said he didn’t find out that he would get a chance to make an impact until three batters before his spot came up.

“I was just sitting there, ready, and then all of a sudden, like -- I didn't even go on deck,” he said. “... [Ottavino] is one of the best relievers in baseball. Honestly, I just tried to stick true to my process and swing at good pitches and put together a good AB. I kind of just tried to keep it simple because I didn't really have much information. I just went for it.”

The win also gave the Rays back-to-back victories for the first time since they won three in a row from April 9-12. They have also clinched their first series triumph since taking two of three games vs. the Giants from April 12-14.

“This was a big win for our team,” Cash said. “The way it's been going, to create a little momentum. We've had two nights of great crowds. We’re playing a good New York Mets team. Great game yesterday, to come out and win this, played a pretty clean baseball game. The pitching was outstanding.”

Four Rays pitchers limited the Mets to only six hits and that one run, which scored two batters into the game after Jose Siri lost Brandon Nimmo’s leadoff line drive in the lights and Starling Marte followed that double with an RBI single to right.

But starter Zack Littell was nails after that. He went six innings and tallied seven strikeouts. The right-hander racked up a career-best 18 whiffs and completed his fourth consecutive start without allowing a walk. Littell has now faced 118 batters since allowing his last free pass.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Littell is tied with Jake Odorizzi (2015) for the fourth-most batters faced without allowing a walk during a single season in Rays history, behind Corey Kluber (150, 2022), David Price (124, 2013) and Zach Eflin (122, 2023).

“Obviously, I hope I never walk another guy in my life,” Littell said with a smile.

There have been a lot of smiles around Tropicana Field this weekend as the Rays have righted themselves after losing eight of their previous 10 games. And this win carried a little extra importance.

“[Cash] deserves it,” Siri said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “I’m very happy for him. He's the type of manager that lets us just be free, lets us be us.”

After the game, Cash reminisced about win No. 1 with Tampa Bay: a 2-0 home triumph over the Orioles in the third game of the 2015 season. Odorizzi was the winning pitcher that night.

“He reminded me of that earlier in Spring Training,” Cash said. “So appreciative of Jake. Thank you to Jake.”

What will Cash remember most about No. 755?

“Probably getting rolled in a cart and having everything sprayed all over me.”