The Miami Marlins head into Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers seeking a record-tying 13th consecutive win in interleague play, per ESPN Stats & Info.
The previous two teams to piece together such a streak both reside in the American League, with the New York Yankees doing it between the 2003 and 2004 seasons, while the Tampa Bay Rays accomplished the feat in 2004 alone.
The Marlins' surprising streak started last season with a 1-0 win over the Kansas City Royals in the second game of a mid-August series. After winning the final game of that series, the Marlins didn't play any interleague games until Sept. 27 when they met the Detroit Tigers for a three-game set to end the season.
Having already clinched the AL Central crown, Detroit was perhaps more focused on getting ready for the playoffs than winning any more regular-season games. Thus, the Marlins swept the playoff-bound Tigers in an encouraging conclusion to an ugly 62-100 season.
Carrying a five-game interleague winning streak into 2014, the much improved Marlins didn't need any help to sweep a three-game home series against the Seattle Mariners from Apr. 18-20. The fish outscored Seattle 18-6 in the series, which was highlighted by a Giancarlo Stanton walk-off grand slam in the first game.
The Marlins thus entered last week's four-game series against the in-state rival Tampa Bay Rays as owners of an eight-game interleague winning streak. It wasn't your typical four-game set, as the first two were played in Tampa Bay and the second two in Miami.
The Marlins didn't seem to care about the location, winning all four games against the flailing Rays by a cumulative score of 20-11. Heading into Tuesday's action, the Marlins (33-30) are shockingly 10 games ahead of the AL-worst Rays (24-41). Tampa Bay hasn't finished below .500 since 2007 while the Marlins haven't finished above .500 since 2009.
Also suffering through a down season are the Rangers, who will start struggling right-hander Colby Lewis in Tuesday's potentially record-tying game. Tom Koehler, owner of a somewhat flukish 3.33 ERA, will take the hill for Miami at the hitter's paradise in Arlington.
Should the Marlins emerge victorious Tuesday night, they'll go for the stand-alone record Wednesday, when Jacob Turner is scheduled to face Rangers ace Yu Darvish.
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