By shutting out the Red Sox today, the Rays have moved into a three-way tie for first place in the AL East. Unsurprisingly but sadly, April 27 is a franchise record for latest date the team has been in first place, the previous record being April 16 in 2004. If they're first place past April, they will be the third expansion team to have taken exactly 11 seasons to accomplish that feat, joining the Astros and Mariners. The Rangers took 13 years and the Padres 16; every other expansion team has done it faster.
