Yandy Diaz sets Rays hitting-streak record, Jose Siri homers twice in 3-1 win vs. Nationals

ST. PETERSBURG — Yandy Diaz turned around and looked at home plate umpire Tony Randazzo with confusion. Diaz was headed to first base in the third inning when Randazzo had to call him back and tell him it was just three balls, not four.

It worked out just fine for Diaz and the Rays though.

On the very next pitch, Diaz lined the ball over the middle of the infield to watch it drop into shallow center field. The hit extended his career-high hitting streak to a franchise-record 20 games as the Rays beat the Nationals, 3-1, in front of an announced crowd of 14,959 at Tropicana Field.

The Rays have won four of their last five games and 10 of their last 16. Saturday, they will look to clinch their season-high fourth series in a row. The Nationals (38-43) have lost five of their last seven games.

Diaz broke the Rays mark set by Jason Bartlett in 2009. Over the 20 games, Diaz is hitting .360 with three home runs and 11 RBIs. Diaz, however, had his RBI streak snapped at eight games, a franchise record he shares with Ben Zobrist (2009), Evan Longoria (2009), Carlos Peña (2008) and current Twins manager Rocco Baldelli (2004).

Diaz’s hot streak is certainly part of the reason the Rays’ offense has been resuscitated.

“That’s been most impressive,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Yeah, I mean, that he’s kind of been that (catalyst at the top of the lineup) for a couple of seasons now for us, sitting at the top of the lineup.”

Another reason for the team’s recent success is Jose Siri, who had two home runs Friday night. It was his second multi-home run game of the season. Siri has 22 hits in 23 games in June, including six of his 11 home runs.

Isaac Paredes’ singled in the Rays’ third run in the third.

Zach Eflin gave the Rays six scoreless innings, scattering four hits and a walk. He struck out six.

The Nationals’ run came on a throwing error in the seventh. Jacob Young hit a two-out double and then stole third. Catcher Alex Jackson tried to throw him out but the ball went into left field, allowing the run to score.