ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- Sean Newcomb and four relievers combined to throw a five-hit shutout, and Ronald Acuña's solo home run proved to be the difference as the Tampa Bay Rays dropped their second straight contest, falling 1-0 to the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday at Tropicana Field.
Rays left-hander Blake Snell worked out of situations with runners on base in each of the first two innings, as Ozzie Albies singled on the first pitch of the game, and Jose Bautista worked a walk in the second, before Acuña stepped to the plate with two away in the third and went down and got an 89 MPH slider at the bottom of the zone and nearly clearing the seats in left center.
According to Statcast, Acuña's home run traveled 434 feet, third longest this season at Tropicana Field.
Snell (4-2) ended up working into the seventh, allowing two other hits and one additional walk while striking out five.
Tampa Bay had minimal opportunities to put runs on the board. In the second with runners at first and second and nobody out, Jesus Sucre grounded into a double play and Rob Refsnyder grounded out to end that threat.
The other threat came in the ninth as Wilson Ramos singled to start the inning against closer Arodys Vizcaino, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. Manager Kevin Cash decided to pinch-run with Mallex Smith, but Smith did not freeze on Span's line drive to Albies and he was doubled up off first to kill any chance to tie the contest.
HECHAVARRIA LEAVES AFTER HIT BY FOUL BALL: It's not often that a shortstop is hit by a foul ball while in the field, but that happened Tuesday to Adeiny Hechavarria in the eighth inning, when a pop-up by Acuña hit a speaker in foul territory. Hechavarria, not knowing if the ball was still in play or not. dove for the ball and missed, and the ball hit off his head after hitting the turf.
Manager Kevin Cash and the training staff came out to tend to the shortstop, who left the game under his own power. Cash said after the game that Hechavarria suffered a contusion, and while it's unsure whether he'll play Wednesday, it isn't considered a serious injury.
WEDNESDAY'S MATCHUP
Rays vs. Atlanta Braves, 7:10 p.m. first pitch, coverage on WDAE begins at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars
Rays starter - LHP Ryan Yarbrough (2-1, 3.33 ERA)
Braves Starter - RHP Julio Teheran (2-1, 3.65 ERA)