ST. PETERSBURG — Right-hander Drew Rasmussen struck out 10 and allowed just four hits as the Tampa Bay Rays blanked the Chicago White Sox 1-0, the club’s fourth shutout in its last seven games.

Rasmussen (10-5) walked one batter and faced only one serious threat — a fifth-inning jam with runners on second and third — before coaxing leadoff hitter Sam Antonacci into an inning-ending lineout to right field. The outing extended Rasmussen’s streak to 23 consecutive games, dating to last season, with two walks or fewer.

“We know how to pitch when the game’s on the line because when you’re winning 1-0, I mean every pitch is on the line,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “One swing can change that. Our guys have really stepped up.”

The Rays manufactured the game’s lone run in the fifth inning against bulk pitcher Noah Schultz. Center fielder Jonny DeLuca singled to left field and stole second, advanced to third on Ben Williamson’s grounder, then scored on catcher Nick Fortes’ RBI single. Tampa Bay managed just five hits — all singles — and put only six total baserunners on base all night.

Baker closed the door in the ninth, converting his 20th consecutive save opportunity despite a pair of deep fly balls — one by Miguel Vargas to the left-field warning track and another by Randal Grichuk that hooked just wide of the Tropicana Field foul pole. Baker then struck out Grichuk for the White Sox’s 16th strikeout of the game.

“We refer to [Baker] as our psychopath,” Rasmussen said with a laugh. “Then, once you get him off the field, he’s just the nicest, most soft-spoken human that’s in this clubhouse. I don’t know what happens when he goes onto the field. But it’s definitely a different personality than what we see in here.”

Baker, whose animated post-save celebrations — DeLuca called them “Viking-esque” — have become a ninth-inning staple at the Trop, embraced the role. “It’s always fun to go out there and you know your teammates are relying on you to get them to the finish line and secure the W,” Baker said. “Some pretty animated things come out of my mouth and body sometimes. That’s just part of it. But I do love this team and getting wins.”

Between Rasmussen and Baker, the bullpen trio of Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Garrett Cleavinger kept the White Sox hitless. Cash credited Rasmussen’s ability to adjust after a shaky first-pitch walk to open the game. “He kind of reset himself,” Cash said. “That’s just how good of a pitcher and how talented he is. He got the ball more in the zone. He trusted the defense. We feel good about him pitching. We feel good about all of our starters right now.”

Rasmussen pointed to the defense behind him, singling out Fortes’ work behind the plate and DeLuca’s diving catch in center field in the fourth inning. “There’s nothing but confidence when our catchers [Fortes and Hunter Feduccia] are back there,” Rasmussen said. “Our [overall] defense is awesome. It gives you confidence to go after hitters. The shutouts [four in the last seven games], I wouldn’t have known that [until it was mentioned]. We’re changing speeds. We’re keeping guys off-balance. Obviously, our pitchers are executing well.”

The Rays continue their series against the White Sox at Tropicana Field with the next game in the set.