By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

We have rechecked the data, redone the math, rebooted the computer. And still the same far-fetched conclusion.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have won 11 straight baseball games.

There will be no more astonishing number to drift across your sports agate today. The only thing more surprising would be seeing Tiger Woods finish 10-over par at a U.S. Open.

Well, never mind.

But back to the Devil Rays, who haven't lost a game since the day after the Lightning won the Stanley Cup. Meaning this might be the year we find out they not only play hockey in Tampa Bay, but baseball, too. And most people would have sworn it was neither.

"Nobody," left fielder Carl Crawford was saying, "saw this coming."

Of course, not. The Devil Rays have been baseball's water heater. Always found in the basement.

This is the team that started the season 10-28, including a 3-19 stretch. A perfectly Rays-like plunge, by the way, for the franchise that debuted one spring day in 1998 ... and was behind 11-0 in the fifth inning.

How long have the Devil Rays been futile? Like, forever. They have finished last all six seasons of life. The closest they have come to a winning record is 69-92.

They are the only major-league team never to play in the postseason. They are 29th out of 30 in payroll (good thing there's Milwaukee). Also 29th out of 30 in attendance (thank heavens for Montreal).

In studying the Tampa Bay media guide, I could find but two items that stood out: Tropicana Field has the only cigar bar in the major leagues, and the Devil Rays promise any fan who gets a Tampa Bay home-run ball an autograph from the player who hit it. Not that that's kept anyone busy most years.

But now, abruptly, they might as well be wearing pinstripes.

The Devil Rays are 22-6 since May 20, better than anyone in baseball, including the Yankees, whose left side of the infield costs more than the entire Tampa Bay roster. The Devil Rays have positively terrorized the National League in interleague play, going 11-1. Last year, they went 3-15.

The bullpen is 9-0 with 12 saves during the 22-6 run. The offense suddenly is producing two runs a game more than during the first six weeks.

The clubhouse is full of stories.

Crawford, only 22 and the lone Devil Ray batting over .300, turned down a chance to play football at Nebraska and basketball at UCLA.

Closer Danys Baez defected from Cuba during the 1999 Pan-Am Games.

Rocco Baldelli, who like Crawford started in the outfield last season at the age of 21, had 184 hits his rookie year, only one less than Ted Williams had in his.

Pitcher Victor Zambrano, the team leader in wins, was drafted as an infielder by the Yankees.

Starter Mark Hendrickson, who is 6-foot-9, played on four NBA teams. He is not only 3-0 in June, but the only major-league pitcher to have a double-double for the New Jersey Nets.

Bullpen flame-thrower Jesus Colome had two fastballs against Arizona Sunday clocked at 100 mph.

Shortstop Julio Lugo was not drafted until the 43rd round.

With 493 home runs but a vaguely low profile, Fred McGriff is igniting debate about whether he should be the first member of the 500 home-run club not to make the Hall of Fame.

All that, and third place, too. Though manager Lou Piniella has repeatedly cautioned, "We're not out of the woods yet."

No, but at least they're out of the cellar. And secure in the knowledge that the last place anyone would expect to find an 11-game winning streak is Tampa Bay.