ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Diaz and Ryan Vilade homered in the first inning and five pitchers combined for a four-hitter as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Wednesday night.
The Rays secured their third shutout in four games, a dominant display that saw them jump out to an early lead. Diaz led off the first inning with a 372-foot, opposite-field shot to right, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Casey Legumina started for Tampa Bay, allowing just one hit in 1 2/3 innings. He was followed by Ian Seymour, who allowed just two hits in 4 2/3 innings of bulk relief. The Rays' bullpen then shut the door, with Garret Cleavinger pitching out of a seventh-inning jam and Kevin Kelly striking out the side in the eighth.
Bryan Baker converted his 19th consecutive save and 29th overall with a scoreless final inning to close out the ninth shutout this season for AL East-leading Tampa Bay. The Rangers, meanwhile, were unable to muster much offense against the Rays' pitching staff.
Texas starter MacKenzie Gore (6-9) allowed three hits and struck out nine in seven innings, retiring 20 of the final 21 batters he faced. The Rangers held the Rays without a hit for the final 7 2/3 innings, but ultimately came up short.
The Rays' offense got off to a hot start, with Diaz and Vilade combining for a two-run homer in the first inning. Jonathan Aranda followed with a double, and the Rays never looked back.
Up next, the Rays will look to continue their strong pitching against the Rangers on Thursday. LHP Shane McClanahan (9-6, 3.09 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale against Rangers RHP Cole Winn (5-3, 6.11).
Source: Yahoo Sports
