Zack Littell and four relievers teamed up for a five-hit shutout, while Jonny DeLuca hit a two-run homer to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 2-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
Littell and Corbin Burnes were locked in a scoreless duel until the sixth inning, when DeLuca, following a leadoff walk, blasted his sixth home run of the season over the left-field wall.
“That 1-1 slider wasn’t a bad pitch,” Burnes remarked. “He just managed to get a good swing on it. That was the key difference today.”
The home run proved decisive against a struggling Orioles offense that managed only three runs throughout the three-game series.
“I’m very encouraged by the pitching and defense,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Winning two out of three games is something to be pleased about.”
The Rays’ win in this series marks their first road series victory since early August and their first series win in Baltimore since late August 2021.
The Orioles are in a close contest with the New York Yankees for the top spot in the AL East. Despite winning two of three games against the White Sox, Baltimore couldn’t maintain their momentum against the Rays.
“We have periods where it feels like we’re making headway,” Burnes remarked. “We’re still in the playoff race.”
Littell (6-9) was pulled after issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth inning. He allowed three hits and kept only two runners from advancing past first base.
In the eighth inning, Edwin Uceta struck out both Eloy Jiménez and Anthony Santander with two runners on base, then completed the game with a save in the ninth, his second of the season.
“Uceta’s performance was crucial,” Cash said, highlighting Uceta’s final strikeout of Coby Mayo with two runners on base as a key moment.
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