ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Alex Jackson and Yandy Díaz hit consecutive home runs in a three-run fifth inning to back Zack Littell, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Cincinnati 4-0 on Saturday to stop the Reds’ three-game winning streak.
Jackson, who was 10 for 100 this season going into the plate appearance, hit a 407-foot homer to left on an 0-1 sweeper from Andrew Abbott (9-7) at the bottom of the strike zone, his third home run this 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 drove an 0-2 fastball to right-center for his ninth home run. Díaz returned Friday after missing seven games for personal reasons and went 1 for 5 with a single.
Amed Rosario and Brandon Lowe followed with consecutive doubles that chased Abbott, who 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 and matched his season high of seven innings, striking out five and walking 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 dispersing players ahead of the trade deadline, sending 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.”
Jose Siri hit into a run-scoring forceout in the second. With runners on second and third and one out, shortstop Elly De La Cruz threw to third baseman Noelvi Marte, who tagged Jonny DeLuca. Umpire Edwin Moscoso called DeLuca safe, but the call was overturned in a video review.
A crowd of 23,464 was announced at Tropicana Field, the second-highest this season after 25,025 sellout crowd for opening day.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: RHP Emilio Pagan (right lat strain) threw a bullpen session Friday and is scheduled to throw to hitters Tuesday. He could be scheduled for a rehab start in the first week of August. Rays: LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery) is to make his season debut Tuesday against Miami. … RHP Ryan Pepiot (right knee infection) threw off the mound Saturday and will be evaluated Sunday.
UP NEXT
RHP Hunter Greene (7-4, 3.14 ERA) will start for the Reds in Sunday’s series finale. The Rays will send out RHP Shawn Armstrong as an opener.
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