Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell gave up a home run to the first batter he faced Saturday, Yandy Diaz, then allowed another homer to Diaz while taking the loss in his return to the rotation.
Snell allowed three runs on five hits while striking out eight over five innings as the Dodgers lost 4-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Diaz’s two-run homer in the third inning gave him 20 for the season. He also singled off Snell in the fifth with a line drive to center.
Snell had not pitched in the majors since April 2 due to a left shoulder injury. He made four rehab starts in the minors, going 4⅔ innings last Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Snell, 32, pitched in two games for the Dodgers this season prior to the injury after signing a five-year, $182 million free agent deal in the offseason.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner spent last season with the San Francisco Giants and three before that with the San Diego Padres.
On Saturday, Snell faced another former team. He won the 2018 American League Cy Young Award with the Rays, receiving his only All-Star honor that year.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
