Rays bosses had hopes but weren’t sure what to expect from converted reliever Zack Littell as he went into a season as a full-time starter for the first time in the big leagues. Littell, who moved from the bullpen to the rotation out of necessity in the middle of last season,

Littell (8-9), who made his team-leading 28th start in his first full season as starter, struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

Zack Littell allowed just one hit over seven innings as the Tampa Bay Rays claimed their three-game series with Boston on Thursday night, blanking the Red Sox 2-0 in a one-hit combined shutout in St.