Crude oil futures continued their recent record-setting ways Tuesday, jumping more than a dollar to $51.09/bbl — the first daily settlement ever above $51. And although some natural gas traders may have felt it was akin to comparing apples with oranges, gas in both its physical and Nymex forms tried to emulate petroleum’s strength as best it could.

Despite topping all other points with a high quote of $7.50, Florida Gas Zone 3 (along with Florida Gas Zone 1) recorded Tuesday’s smallest average gains of about a dime. Otherwise advances were much stronger, ranging from a little less than 30 cents to 75 cents.

But gas traders were at a loss to find fundamental justification for a second day of spiking prices that managed to erase Friday’s big losses. And this time the surging cash...