After shutting down the Cleveland Guardians offense for the last seven innings on Thursday night, the Tampa Bay Rays repeated the feat for the first seven innings on Friday night.

As a result, they won 3-1.

One of the Guardians’ problems was the absence of leadoff hitter Steven Kwan. He was scratched from the lineup with back soreness.

Zack Littell (7-9) and Kevin Kelly kept the Guardians off the scoreboard, while the Rays hitters built a 3-0 lead.

Tampa Bay catcher Logan Driscoll hit the first home run of his career, a two-run shot in the third inning.

First baseman Jonathan Aranda added a solo homer in the fourth off Tanner Bibee (11-8).

ENDING THE DRY SPELL

Cleveland finally got on the scoreboard in the eighth inning on back-to-back doubles by Jhonkensy Noel and pinch-hitter David Fry.

Guardians relievers Andrew Walters and Eli Morgan kept the Rays off the scoreboard in the final three innings, but Cleveland couldn’t finish the comeback.

Kansas City crushed Pittsburgh 8-3, so the Royals are now only three games behind Cleveland in the AL Central Division.

The Guardians will try again tonight when they meet the Rays at 6:10 at Progressive Field.

Joey Cantillo, coming off his first career win, will start for Cleveland. The Rays, who invented the bullpen game, will pitch one tonight and open with Drew Rasmussen.