Zack Littell pitches in as Rays roll past Tigers
DETROIT — Zack Littell knows he wasn’t moved into the rotation to take the place of any of the Rays’ injured front-line starters, more just to help them deal with the loss.
And he has pitched in pretty well.
With Shane McClanahan the latest Rays starter to be sidelined, Littell delivered the strongest of his three traditional starts in Friday’s 8-0 win over the Tigers, working a career-high six innings, and with all zeroes at that.
Littell, the 27-year-old claimed off waivers from Boston in May and converted last month from reliever to starter (which he was in the minors), was effective and efficient, allowing only three hits while walking one and striking out one, throwing 74 pitches (49 strikes).
“Really key,’” manager Kevin Cash said. “How can we not be as encouraged as possible for what he’s done in three starts now? In the two most recent, we’re getting five innings (in Sunday’s win at Houston) and then through six (Friday). Super efficient. A lot just that we like and want to continue that pace, that path. He’s probably not going to be that efficient every single night, but saying that, he threw the ball really, really well again.”
And Littell definitely enjoyed doing so.
“I think that when you slide into this rotation (with Tyler Glasnow, Zach Eflin, McClanahan, since-demoted rookie Taj Bradley), that’s four guys with just elite stuff,” Littell said. “So it’s definitely never a lack of confidence in my stuff — and I don’t want to say intimidating — but obviously you just want to be a part of that.
“To go out there and do that (Friday) was a lot of fun personally, and just a lot of fun as a team to watch those guys do what they did, put up the runs, play the defense. Truly a team win.”
Littell got plenty of help.
Shortstop Wander Franco led a display of dazzling defense throughout the night, and the Rays hitters struck early and often in their own version of the WWE Summer Slam event being held Saturday at nearby Ford Field, scoring four times in the first two innings.
As a result, the Rays rolled to their fifth win in seven games on the road trip that includes series wins over the Astros and Yankees. They improved to 67-45 overall, having started the day two games behind the American League East-leading Orioles.
The eight runs matched the Rays’ Sunday showing in Houston (also with Littell on the mound) as their most in a game since the All-Star break. The 13 hits were their highest since June 30.
“When the team is doing well we just keep supporting each other, and we just carry that momentum over,” said Jose Siri, who hit a two-run homer in the second, via team interpreter Manny Navarro.
Former Tiger Isaac Paredes got their first big hit, a two-run double in the first after Brandon Lowe singled with two outs and Randy Arozarena walked.
“It was a good thing I was able to get that hit early and we were able to get on top early,” Paredes said, via Navarro. “We knew we were going to go out there with good energy.”
In the second, Harold Ramirez hustled his way to a leadoff infield single, and Siri followed with his 21st homer, tying Paredes for the team lead. “The goal is 30, so you’ve got to keep going,” said Siri, who also made several good catches.
The Rays tacked on from there, rapping four straight singles after a sixth-inning opening error to score three in the sixth, and another in the seventh.
Franco’s defense definitely stood out. “After Wander made the double play up the middle (in the second inning), I was just like, ‘OK, I’m just going to let them hit it to him then,’” Littell said. “He was absolutely incredible (Friday). He’s been incredible all year. Super fun to watch. At some point it just gets a little silly turning around and watching him make these plays.”
Also standing out: Littell, who maybe does have the stuff to follow the path of relievers Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs in being converted to front line starters.
“We’ll see,” Cash said. “We didn’t think that about Rass, we didn’t think that about Springs. ... I think they’re all separate. They get there separately. But it doesn’t mean that Littell can’t be really, really good.”
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