Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen dominated over six shutout innings, Nick Fortes singled in the only run, and the Rays opened August by blanking the Chicago White Sox 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.

In reaching double figures in victories for the third time in his career, Rasmussen (10-5) allowed just four singles. He walked one and reached double-digits in strikeouts for the second time with 10.

The right-hander and four relievers combined for 16 strikeouts. Bryan Baker notched his 31st save in 34 chances with a perfect ninth.

Yandy Diaz went 2-for-4 as the Rays managed just five singles in squaring the three-game series. Jonny DeLuca had a hit, scored and stole a base.

For the White Sox, Jordan Hicks pitched as the opener for the first time and fired a perfect inning before giving way to Noah Schultz, who was sharp but allowed one run.

Schultz (3-8) yielded three hits in five innings, struck out four and hit a batter.

Edgar Quero had two hits, but the White Sox produced only five singles and had just one at-bat with a runner in scoring position.

With Friday night’s fireworks of four homers in the first four innings behind the two first-place clubs, pitching took center stage early in the series’ middle game as Rasmussen, using mostly fastballs, fanned five of the first six batters he faced and retired the first eight batters before Quero singled in a 10-pitch at-bat.

White Sox pitching went 9-up, 9-down before Diaz led off the fourth with a single and was advanced to second on Chandler Simpson’s sacrifice bunt for the first scoring chance. Yet Schultz whiffed Junior Caminero and got a long flyout from Victor Mesa Jr.

The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the fifth after DeLuca singled, moved to second on his 12th stolen base and soon scored on a two-out single that Fortes fought off and looped over shortstop.

After Rasmussen departed, pinch hitter Randal Grichuk led off the seventh with a single off Cam Booser, but the lefty reliever responded with two strikeouts before Kevin Kelly came in and fanned Chase Meidroth with a changeup.

With two outs in the eighth, lefty Garrett Cleavinger whiffed Chicago slugger Munetaka Murakami to finish the frame.

Baker retired Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery and Grichuk to preserve the Rays’ fourth shutout in seven games.

–Field Level Media

The Tampa Bay Rays placed left-hander Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured list Friday with tightness in his left-mid back area.

McClanahan was removed from Thursday’s game against the visiting Texas Rangers after facing two batters in the fourth inning.

The two-time All-Star hit Ezequiel Duran to open the inning and walked Brandon Nimmo before bending over on the mound. Manager Kevin Cash and head athletic trainer Joe Benge walked to the mound and immediately removed McClanahan from the game.

“I didn’t want it to snowball into something major,” McClanahan said after the game. “Tightness is one thing; you can work with that, but being a little unsure of if this could develop into a pulled muscle or something. … It’s not worth losing yourself for a long run.”

McClanahan, 29, is 9-6 with a 3.09 ERA in 20 appearances (all starts) this season.

He is 42-22 with a 3.04 ERA in 94 career appearances (all starts) with Tampa Bay.

The Rays also recalled right-hander Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

Cook, 25, is 1-2 with one save and a 3.78 ERA in 29 appearances (five starts) with the Bulls. It will be his major league debut if he gets into a game.

–Field Level Media

Four-star recruit A’mir Sears has committed to Miami, according to ESPN.

Sears was ESPN’s top uncommitted prospect in the 2027 cycle. Only days earlier he announced his intention to reclassify from the Class of 2028 to Class of 2027. He becomes the top-ranked member of the latest recruiting class of head coach Mario Cristobal, per ESPN’s SC Next rankings.

Sears was previously ESPN’s No. 7 overall recruit in the 2028 cycle before announcing his decision to reclassify days earlier. He now ranks as the No. 25 prospect and Florida’s No. 5 recruit.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound athlete picked the Hurricanes over LSU, Michigan, and Texas A&M. He is expected to play cornerback at the collegiate level.

Sears recorded 61 tackles, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions this past season at Florida’s West Broward High School while catching 49 passes for 942 yards and 11 touchdowns on the other side of the ball. He’ll play his junior year at Cristobal’s alma mater, nearby Christopher Columbus High School. Recent Miami signees Bryce Fitzgerald and Daylen Russell also featured at the school.

At Miami, Sears will play alongside fellow in-state recruits wide receiver Nick Lennear, offensive tackle Sean Tatum, and athlete Demarcus Deroche. Sears is now the top-ranked defender set to join the Hurricanes in 2027, leaping No. 40-ranked Jaiden Bryant, a defensive end.

Only five uncommitted players remain among ESPN’s top 300 recruits in the 2027 cycle, including No. 3 running back Landen Williams-Callis. He’s expected to announce his commitment Saturday.

–Field Level Media