Evan Longoria Ensures Rays Don’t Endure Another No-Hitter

As they embark on their 20th season, the Tampa Bay Rays have enjoyed fairly prosperous results over the last decade. They have made the postseason four times in the last nine years, highlighted by a 2008 World Series appearance, with consistently strong young pitching and third baseman Evan Longoria anchoring the offense.

Yet, within the Rays’ DNA also exists a strange propensity for reaching nadirs; five times since 2002, Tampa Bay has been no-hit, the most in baseball over that period. The Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres have been no-hit three times in that span.

So Monday afternoon, on a picturesque spring day for baseball, it was understandable if Rays…