NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Luke Raley #55 of the Tampa Bay Rays runs to first during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 13, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City.

Rays' Raley responds to New York radio host: 'Keep doubting us'

Josh Goldberg
Sarah Stier / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Luke Raley admitted Monday that a recent rant on a New York sports radio station questioning the legitimacy of his team's hot start to the season is serving as motivation for the club.

"Everyone gets the message ... That video, it hit us", Raley said, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "We wanted to own it … Keep doubting us; we're going to come out and keep playing good baseball."

Evan Roberts, a host at WFAN 660 in New York City, took to the airwaves two weeks ago and said there was "something suspicious" about Tampa Bay's 28-7 record at the time.

Roberts also questioned how certain players like Christian Bethancourt and Taylor Walls were producing the best numbers of their careers.

The Rays enter play Monday with a 34-14 record and lead the Baltimore Orioles by 2.5 games for first place in the AL East.

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