Zack Littell and four relievers combined for a five-hit shutout, Jonny DeLuca hit a two-run home run, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 on Sunday.
Littell and Corbin Burnes were in a scoreless battle until the sixth inning, when DeLuca, after a leadoff walk, hit his sixth home run of the season, just clearing the left-field wall.
“That 1-1 slider wasn’t a bad pitch,” Burnes said. “He just managed to get a good swing on it. That was the key difference today.”
The home run was enough to outshine a struggling Baltimore offense that scored just three runs over the three-game series.
“I’m very encouraged about the pitching and the defense,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Winning two out of three games is something to be pleased about.”
This is the Rays’ first series win on the road since early August and their first series win in Baltimore since late August 2021.
The Orioles are in a tight race with the New York Yankees for the top position in the AL East. After winning two of three games against the White Sox, Baltimore couldn’t keep up the momentum against the Rays.
“We have stretches where it seems like we’re making progress,” Burnes said. “We’re still in the hunt for the postseason.”
Littell (6-9) was taken out after giving up a leadoff walk in the sixth. He allowed three hits and only let two runners reach beyond first base.
Edwin Uceta struck out Eloy Jiménez and Anthony Santander with two runners on base in the eighth inning, then closed out the game in the ninth for his second save.
“Huge performance,” Cash said about Uceta, who ended the game by striking out Coby Mayo with two on base.
