Red Sox get shutout pitching, solo homer to edge Rays 1-0

Boston's David Hamilton hit a solo home run in the third inning and four Red Sox pitchers made it stand up in a 1-0 win over the host Tampa Bay Rays in the rubber match of the three-game series on Wednesday night.

Boston managed only five hits but picked up its second straight victory since being blitzed 16-1 on Monday.

Red Sox left-hander Sean Newcomb went 4 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Greg Weissert (1-0) fanned three in 1 1/3 innings, including pitching out of jam in the fifth inning.

Garrett Whitlock allowed a hit and struck out three in two innings for Boston, and Justin Slaten worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his second save.

Weissert came on with two on and two out in the fifth and the Red Sox nursing their 1-0 lead. He got the first batter he faced, Yandy Diaz, to whiff on a changeup to end the threat.

Romy Gonzalez, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu all had doubles for Boston.

Tampa Bay was also limited to five hits, leaving Zack Littell (0-4) as the tough-luck loser. In six innings, he gave up all five of Boston's hits, walked three and struck out five.

Littell retired the first six batters he faced before Hamilton's line drive homer to right field led off the third.

Newcomb limited the hosts to just four singles. Shortstop Trevor Story's spin and throw took a leadoff hit away from Junior Caminero in the fourth, and the inning ended with Christopher Morel getting caught attempting to steal second following a one-out single.

Boston was unable to extend its lead despite loading the bases in the fourth, and then getting back-to-back hits from Duran (double) and Rafael Devers (single) with one out in the fifth.

Tampa Bay center fielder Jake Mangum made a running catch in the gap on Carlos Narvaez's long fly in the ninth. The visitors were held hitless over the final three innings by Rays relievers Garrett Cleavinger, Mason Englert and Eric Orze.