The Tampa Bay Rays (53-52) defeated the Cincinnati Reds (50-54) 4-0 on Saturday evening at Tropicana Field. The Rays have evened the three-game series with Cincinnati, and pulled back above .500 with the rubber game coming up on Sunday.
Zack Littell was the star of the night, pitching seven shutout innings in which he allowed just three hits while striking out five and walking one. Kevin Kelly worked the eighth and Colin Poche the ninth to close out the shutout win.
After the Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second, they took control of the game in the fifth. Alex Jackson and Yandy Diaz hit back-to-back homers to make it 3-0. Moments later Amed Rosario hit a long double, before Brandon Lowe hit another loud double to drive him in and make it 4-0, which would prove to be the final score.
The Rays will now look to win the series against the Reds coming up on Sunday morning. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 11:35 AM - pregame coverage beings with Chris Adams-Wall hosting This Week In Rays Baseball at 10:00 AM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620 your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES