MIAMI -- After five innings Wednesday night, the Rays didn’t have a hit. After nine innings, they didn’t have a run. But as they entered the 10th inning at loanDepot park, they knew they still had a chance.

The Rays’ recent knack for scoring late in games was on display again in a 3-0 win over the Marlins. They just had to wait a little longer than usual, as run-scoring hits by Josh Lowe and Randy Arozarena keyed their game-winning rally in the 10th.

“The best part was that we were able to win the game. It doesn't matter how you do it,” Arozarena said through interpreter Manny Navarro. “You can win it in the first. You can win it in the fifth. You've got to play all 27 outs -- sometimes a little bit more.”

By completing a two-game sweep of Miami, Tampa Bay improved to 9-1 in its past 10 series and 20-9 overall during that stretch. The Rays have won six consecutive series for the first time since March 31-April 18, 2019, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. 

Their 82nd victory of the season also pushed them a season-high 30 games over .500 and pulled them back within 1 1/2 games of the Orioles in the American League East standings.

“I love where we're at,” Lowe said. “I love where we're at going into September.”

It wouldn’t hurt to carry over their penchant for late-inning rallies, either. The Rays scored 152 runs in 25 games this month, with 56 of those coming in the seventh inning or later. (By comparison, they scored 55 runs after the sixth inning during their record-setting March/April.)

Tampa Bay was at it again Wednesday night. Held hitless for 5 1/3 innings by Jesús Luzardo and scoreless for nine innings, the Rays finally rallied in the 10th against veteran reliever David Robertson. Pinch-hitter Jonathan Aranda put runners on the corners with a leadoff infield single, then Lowe smacked a 1-2 knuckle curve through the right side of the infield for a pinch-hit RBI single.

Lowe had been waiting for his chance all night while the Marlins ran out three southpaw relievers behind the lefty starter Luzardo. When Miami went to the right-handed Robertson, Lowe was eager to contribute.

“Definitely pretty antsy there, sitting [and] watching that game unfold,” said Lowe, who’s hitting .345 with runners in scoring position this season. “I was ready as soon as they called my name.”

With one out, Arozarena knocked a two-run single to left. Arozarena went on to steal second and third base, giving him a third consecutive 20-homer, 20-steal season. The 28-year-old is the first player in franchise history to record three straight 20-20 campaigns, and he joined B.J. Upton as the only Rays with three 20-20 years overall.

“It is going to always be a goal of mine to continue to be able to do that,” Arozarena said through Navarro.

Of course, Tampa Bay was still playing after nine innings thanks to starter Zach Eflin. Luzardo held the lineup hitless until Yandy Díaz swatted a one-out double to center in the sixth inning, but Eflin countered with a masterful performance of his own as the Rays beat the Marlins for the 22nd time in their past 25 matchups.

“Luzardo was spot on,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Fortunately for us, Eflin kind of went toe-to-toe with him and did the same thing.”

Eflin permitted only four hits while striking out four batters over 6 1/3 incredibly efficient innings. The veteran right-hander recorded 19 outs on just 69 pitches (48 strikes) and didn’t work his way into a single three-ball count during his 11th walk-free outing of the season.

Despite his efficiency, Eflin’s outing ended with one out in the seventh. Cash summoned lefty Colin Poche to face the left-handed Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Poche did his job before turning over the ball to Shawn Armstrong (who earned the win and lowered his ERA to 0.89) and Pete Fairbanks (who secured his 18th save).

They received some help from the Rays’ defense, too. With Jesús Sánchez on third base and Joey Wendle at the plate with two outs in the fifth, catcher Christian Bethancourt picked off Sánchez to end the inning. Josh Bell sliced a fly ball deep to left-center field to begin the seventh, but center fielder Jose Siri covered a vast amount of ground to make the difficult catch.

“Those guys really kept us in the game and kind of let me just attack guys,” Eflin said. “Really just being able to throw strikes, get ahead of guys, keep them off balance, mixing up the pitches. [Bethancourt] was once again awesome behind the plate. [I] followed his lead and really kind of just hit cruise mode.”