Alex Jackson and Yandy Díaz hit back-to-back home runs during a three-run fifth inning to support Zack Littell, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Saturday, ending the Reds’ three-game winning streak.
Jackson, who had a .100 batting average for the season before this at-bat, hit a 407-foot homer to left field on an 0-1 pitch from Andrew Abbott (9-7), his third home run of the season.
“I got something offspeed the pitch before and I felt like I saw it pretty good,” Jackson said. “So, I kind of told myself to be ready for it. I was able to catch it out in front and when I saw it leave the infield I was like: I think I got that one.”
Díaz hit a 0-2 fastball to right-center for his ninth home run. Díaz returned on Friday after missing seven games due to personal reasons and went 1 for 5 with a single.
Amed Rosario and Brandon Lowe followed with back-to-back doubles that forced Abbott to leave the game. Abbott gave up four runs and eight hits in four-plus innings.
“I made some good pitches, two of them were pretty spot on to where I wanted to go with them, they just put pretty good swings on those,” Abbott said. “You always want to go deep into games, save the bullpen, give the team a chance to win. Unfortunately, the hits just kept on coming in this one.”
Littell (4-7) allowed three hits, matched his season high with seven innings, struck out five, and walked one. He had been 0-2 in his previous three starts.
“Nice to see him kind of rebound, bounce back for us,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s been so solid for us all season long, today you can argue maybe one of his better, if not his best outing.”
Tampa Bay has been trading players ahead of the trade deadline, including outfielder Randy Arozarena to Seattle and starting pitcher Zach Eflin to Baltimore. “I haven’t thought about it. Obviously, I know it’s a possibility,” Littell said. “It hasn’t crossed my mind.”
