Citrus Series

Citrus Series
Teams
  • Miami Marlins
  • Tampa Bay Rays
First meeting June 22, 1998
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Latest meeting

October 1, 2015
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

Rays 4, Marlins 1
Next meeting May 23, 2016
Marlins Park, Miami, Florida
Statistics
Meetings total 99
Regular season series 51–48, Rays
Largest victory 15–2, Rays (May 22, 2009)
Longest win streak
  • Marlins: 7 (July 4, 2004–June 26, 2005)
  • Rays: 8 (May 22, 2011–June 15, 2012)
Current win streak 5, Rays

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
Overall Rays (9–8–1) 48 51

References

  1. ↑ Marlins History
  2. ↑ Rays History
  3. ↑ Chiang, Anthony (June 19, 2011). "Rays don't view Citrus Series as rivalry". MLB.com. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  4. ↑ Fennelly, Martin (June 19, 2011). "Some rivalry Citrus Series has become". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Marlins send Yunel Escobar to Rays". ESPN. Associated Press. December 5, 2012.
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