Thursday, 4 a.m.
When the Tampa Bay Rays are hot — and these days, they are torrid — you look first to the pitching staff.
This time, it was Drew Rasmussen’s turn.
Rasmussen won his third straight game Wednesday in a 5-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Rasmussen has thrown 18 innings over the three games and hasn’t allowed a run.
On Wednesday, Rasmussen allowed just one hit (he’s allowed nine hits in the three games.
It’s no secret that the Rays’ blueprint is built around pitching. In their last 10 games, the Rays have won three shutouts, two one-run games and two two-run games. They’re 7-1 in their last eight games.
The Rays had a solo homer by Brandon Lowe (his 11th) in the fourth and a two-run shot by Junior Caminero (his 10th). Jonathan Aranda singled in one run and scored another on a balk.
Josh Lowe, Aranda and Caminero had two hits for the Rays.
The Rays bullpen of Edwin Uceta, Mason Montgomery and Conner Seabold allowed five hits in their three innings, but kept the shutout intact.
The Rays now travel to Houston to face the Astros at 8:10 p.m. Shane Baz will start for the Rays against Ryan Gusto.