Littell shines as Rays defeat Red Sox 2-0 in Tampa

On Thursday night in St. Petersburg, Florida, Zack Littell delivered an outstanding performance, allowing only one hit over seven innings as the Tampa Bay Rays secured a 2-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox. This marked Littell's 28th start of the season, showcasing his growth in his first full year as a starter. He struck out seven batters and did not walk any, demonstrating his control on the mound. Edwin Uceta followed with a perfect eighth inning, while Garrett Cleavinger closed the game with a flawless ninth, earning his sixth save of the season. The only hit for the Red Sox came from Nick Sogard, who recorded a two-out single in the third inning. The Rays scored their runs thanks to Brandon Lowe's sacrifice fly, which drove in a run in the third inning off Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello. Bello pitched well, allowing just one run on five hits, but it was not enough to secure a win for Boston. The loss adds to the Red Sox's struggles, as they have gone 22-35 since the All-Star break and are now four games behind the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers for the final American League wild card spot. With only nine games remaining in the season, the Red Sox face a challenging road ahead. Meanwhile, the Rays are also in a tight race for the playoffs, sitting five games out of the third wild-card position. They need to perform well in their upcoming series against Toronto to maintain a winning record at home for the eighth consecutive season. Both teams are under pressure as the season nears its conclusion.