DODGERS and Angels both lost on Friday night (Shutterstock).

The Tampa Bay Rays, the team with – far and away – the best record in Major League Baseball, made its point with vigor on Friday, hammering the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-3 in Florida.

The Rays, now 38-15 and in first in the American League West, posted an early 4-1 lead and went on to deliver a sound defeat to the best team in the National League, now 31-21.

In their throwback Devil Ray uniforms, Tampa Bay bedeviled the Blue Crew with home runs by Yandy Diaz and Jose Siri, who combined for five hits and four RBIs. Catcher Christian Bethancourt went 3-for-4 with a double and two singles, driving in one run and scoring two.

As for the Dodgers, with nine hits and six walks, they had their chances but batted only 3 for 14. Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and J.D. Martinez each had two hits, but none of those hits were for extra bases.

Noah Synderegard (1-4) was again the victim. He pitched six innings, giving up eight hits and six earned runs. He struck out three and walked one.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday with Clayton Kershaw (6-4) expected to start for LAD.