Citrus Series
| Teams |
|
|---|---|
| First meeting |
June 22, 1998 Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Latest meeting |
May 26, 2016 |
| Next meeting |
May 1, 2017 Marlins Park, Miami, Florida |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 103 |
| Regular season series | 52–51, Rays |
| Largest victory | 15–2, Rays (May 22, 2009) |
| Longest win streak |
|
| Current win streak | 2, Marlins |
The Citrus Series is the name given to the interleague series between the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays in Major League Baseball. The Marlins broke into the league in 1993 as the Florida Marlins,[1] while the Rays had their first season in 1998 as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[2] The first meeting between the two teams took place on June 22, 1998 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida during the Rays' inaugural season. Beginning with the 2012 season, when the Marlins are the home team, games are played at Marlins Park. From 1998 to 2011, the games were played at Sun Life Stadium (as it is currently named), though it has been known by several names in its existence.
Currently, because the Marlins play in the National League, and the Rays in the American League, the only possible postseason matchup the teams can have is in the World Series, though this has never happened as the two teams have yet to appear in the same postseason. Both teams have had appearances in the Fall Classic, however. The Marlins have won both of their World Series appearances in 1997 and 2003, while the Rays lost their only appearance in 2008.
Former Rays manager Joe Maddon said he does not consider the Citrus Series a true rivalry. "I really don't honestly believe the fans see it as being a rivalry, I really don't. The best way to get that done is to include us in the same league or the same division. That might stir something up."[3][4]
Weeks after the Marlins concluded a characteristic fire sale that brought in less expensive players such as Yunel Escobar from the Toronto Blue Jays, the Marlins traded Escobar to the Rays for minor leaguer Derek Dietrich.[5]
Series year-by-year results
| Year | Series Winner | Marlins W | Rays W | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Marlins | 3 | 1 | Devil Rays' inaugural season, 4-game home-and-away format |
| 1999 | Marlins | 5 | 1 | First year of 6-game home-and-away format |
| 2000 | Tie | 3 | 3 | |
| 2001 | Marlins | 4 | 2 | |
| 2002 | Devil Rays | 2 | 4 | |
| 2003 | Marlins | 3 | 0 | Played at Pro Player Stadium, Marlins would win their 2nd World Series |
| 2004 | Devil Rays | 2 | 4 | |
| 2005 | Marlins | 6 | 0 | Pro Player Stadium is renamed to Dolphins Stadium |
| 2006 | Devil Rays | 2 | 4 | |
| 2007 | Marlins | 4 | 2 | |
| 2008 | Rays | 1 | 5 | The Devil Rays change their name to Rays, make their first World Series |
| 2009 | Rays | 1 | 5 | Dolphin Stadium is renamed to Land Shark Stadium late in the season. |
| 2010 | Marlins | 4 | 2 | Land Shark Stadium is renamed to Sun Life Stadium |
| 2011 | Rays | 2 | 4 | Marlins' last season at Sun Life Stadium |
| 2012 | Rays | 1 | 5 | The Marlins change their name from Florida to Miami. Marlins Park opens. |
| 2013 | Rays | 0 | 4 | |
| 2014 | Marlins | 4 | 0 | |
| 2015 | Rays | 1 | 5 | |
| 2016 | Marlins | 3 | 1 | |
| Overall | Tied (9–9–1) | 51 | 52 |
References
- ↑ Marlins History
- ↑ Rays History
- ↑ Chiang, Anthony (June 19, 2011). "Rays don't view Citrus Series as rivalry". MLB.com. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ↑ Fennelly, Martin (June 19, 2011). "Some rivalry Citrus Series has become". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
- ↑ "Marlins send Yunel Escobar to Rays". ESPN. Associated Press. December 5, 2012.