The Tampa Bay Rays (65-45) defeated the Chicago White Sox (58-52) 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field. With the win the Rays are once again 20 games above .500, and have earned their fourth shutout in the first eight games of their nine game homestand.
Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.91) was dominant, pitching six shutout innings in which he allowed just four hits while striking out ten and walking one. A bullpen combination of Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly, Garrett Cleavinger and Bryan Baker combined to secure the shutout - Baker earned his 31st save of the season after working a perfect ninth inning.
The only offense in the game came in the fifth inning when Nick Fortes hit a RBI single to give the Rays a 1-0 lead, which would prove to be the final score.
The Rays will now try to win the series in the final game of the homestand on Sunday afternoon. Griffin Jax (6-8, 3.74) is scheduled to start for the Rays and face Anthony Kay (7-5, 4.25) for the White Sox. First pitch from Tropicana Field is scheduled for 1:40 PM - pregame coverage begins with Chris Adams-Wall hosting This Week In Rays Baseball at high noon on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES