Yandy Díaz powered the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday afternoon, launching two home runs off former teammate Blake Snell. With Díaz’s early offensive surge and a sharp outing from starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen, the Rays evened the series at Tropicana Field. Entering the game as +105 underdogs, the Rays controlled momentum from the start and kept the Dodgers off the scoreboard.
Díaz wasted no time giving Tampa Bay the lead, sending a 326-foot solo home run over the left-field wall in the first inning. It was his first of two long balls against Snell, who made his return to the mound after a prolonged absence due to injury. Díaz struck again in the third, with a two-run shot to left-center field for his 20th home run of the season. He later added a single in the fifth inning, finishing the day 3-for-3 and recording his 900th career hit.
Rasmussen delivered an efficient and effective outing, pitching 5 1/3 innings without allowing a run. He scattered four singles hits and struck out six while keeping Los Angeles runners off second base throughout his appearance. Rasmussen improved to 9-5 on the season and handed the ball to the bullpen with a three-run cushion.
The Dodgers’ best scoring opportunity came in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with one out against Garrett Cleavinger. However, the Rays reliever responded by inducing a double play from Teoscar Hernández to end the inning and maintain the shutout.
Snell, activated from the injured list earlier in the day, was making his first major league start since April 2. The former Cy Young Award winner showed flashes of dominance, striking out eight over four-plus innings, but was tagged with the loss. He allowed five hits and three earned runs, bringing his season record to 1-1. This start marked only his third since signing a $182 million deal with the Dodgers during the offseason.
Tampa Bay added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Junior Caminero connected for a solo home run off Dodgers reliever Jack Dreyer. Caminero’s 27th homer of the year pushed the Rays’ lead to four runs.
The game was played in front of a sellout crowd 10,046 at Tropicana Field. The result marked the second consecutive shutout for the Dodgers, who have failed to score in 18 straight innings against the Rays’ pitching staff.
The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Sunday. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (9-7, 2.63 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Dodgers as they look to bounce back. Tampa Bay will counter with right-hander Joe Boyle (1-1, 2.82 ERA), making his final home start before the team embarks on a two-week road trip.