41-year-old Hill gets Rays started in 3-0 shutout of Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rich Hill pitched another five scoreless innings as the Tampa Bay Rays blanked the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Saturday.

Hill (5-2) struck out three and allowed two hits while throwing 59 pitches. That was three more pitches than the 41-year-old left-hander threw in five scoreless innings on the final day of May last Monday against the Yankees in New York.

Diego Castillo, the fourth Rays reliever, struck out the side in the ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances and to cap the team’s fifth shutout victory this season. Texas, which had four hits, was held scoreless for the seventh time.

Austin Meadows, the third batter of the game, had a two-run single off Kolby Allard (1-2). Manuel Margot hit a solo homer in the eighth for the Rays (37-23), who have AL's best record and are 32-15 since mid-April after losing three in a row at home to Texas.

With his 10th team in his 17 big league seasons, Hill allowed 16 earned runs over 16 1/3 innings in his first four starts for the Rays, including four runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at home against Texas on April 15. But he has an 0.98 ERA (five earned runs over his 45 2/3 innings) his last eight starts, including 3-1 with an 0.78 ERA in his six May starts.

Adolis Garcia walked in the first against Hill, but was caught stealing when trying to advance on a ball in the dirt. Garcia grounded a single through the vacant right side of the shifted Rays infield in the fourth for the first Texas hit. The only other hit off Hill, which led to him waving his arm in frustration, was Charlie Culberson's grounder down the opposite line that rolled into the right-field corner for a triple in the fifth.

Allard, a 23-year right-hander in his second consecutive starter after 10 relief appearances to open the season, allowed two runs and three hits in a...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/41-year-old-Hill-gets-Rays-started-in-3-0-shutout-16227676.php