ST. PETERSBURG -- Behind home runs by Brandon Lowe and Kevin Kiermaier and another impressive pitching performance, the Rays won their fourth straight game, 7-1 over the Rockies on Monday.

Here are three takeaways from the Rays’ fourth consecutive victory:

Rays' pitching continues to dominate
Ryne Stanek got the start in the first opener game of the season, and he did not disappoint. Stanek, who opened 29 games last season, allowed one hit and struck out three in the first.

Following Stanek was Ryan Yarbrough, who led all rookies with 16 wins a year ago. Yarbrough, who dealt with a nosebleed throughout the game, allowed just one run in 4 1/3 innings.

“He mixed really well,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He had a pretty electric cutter that he was able to get in on the righties. But he threw the ball well, made big pitches. Kept them off balance just enough, but really the cutter was the most impressive pitch that I recognize from the side tonight.”

Wilmer Font allowed a run-scoring double to Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado in the sixth inning but followed by getting Trevor Story to pop out with runners in scoring position. With two outs and runners on second and third, Cash called on Jalen Beeks to face left-hander Ryan McMahon.

Beeks, who has yet to allow a run in five innings out of the bullpen, struck out McMahon on a 3-2 cutter down in the zone.

“I thought at that moment, the game was probably right there with the three-four-five hitters coming up,” Cash said. “He came in and got one big out and then three the following inning.”

The run allowed Monday was the first charged to the Rays' bullpen this season. Through five games, the bullpen has a 0.43 ERA in 21 innings.

Lowe and Kiermaier provide the power
The Rays will depend on their pitching a lot this season, but Lowe and Kiermaier delivered with big home runs Monday.

Lowe, who was 0-for-10 to start the season, ended the skid with a two-run home run off Colorado starter Chad Bettis in the fourth inning to open the scoring. Lowe went 2-for-4 Monday with a pair of runs scored.

“Anytime you hit the ball well and get hits, it’s always going to boost your confidence,” Lowe said. “But when things aren’t going your way, you really have to bear down and not get down on yourself.”

Kiermaier’s three-run home run in the sixth inning gave the Rays a comfortable 6-1 cushion. The Rays center fielder finished with four RBIs.

“Always feels good barreling balls up, but anytime you could score three runs and create that gap and make that a six-run game, that’s what felt really good,” Kiermaier said. “It’ll be nice to do that a couple more times this year.”

Yandy Díaz continued his hot start, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Diaz has recorded a hit in every game and is hitting .353 in 17 at-bats. Tommy Pham also extended his on-base streak to 37 games with a walk in the seventh inning. He’s two shy of Johnny Damon’s franchise-best 39-game streak.

Party at the Trop
The Rays are 4-1, which matches the 2012 team for the best five-game start in franchise history. They are off to a good start, and they’re having some fun while doing so.

“I think the big thing, and I’m sure you guys can see it on TV and being here in person, is how much fun we’re having,” Yarbrough said. “If we continue to have fun, we’re going to win a lot ballgames and go from there.”

Most of the credit for the strong start falls to the Rays' pitching staff, and on Tuesday, reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell is scheduled to take the mound against the Rockies with hopes of making it five straight wins for Tampa Bay.

“To see everybody play as good as they played and see the pitchers pitch as good as they did, it was awesome. I enjoyed it a lot,” Snell said Monday. “It just made me more hungry to get better.”