Rays defeat the Astros, 1-0. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.
Tyler Alexander combined with four other Rays pitchers on a three-hitter, Brandon Lowe hit an RBI double in the third inning, and Tampa Bay beat the Houston Astros 1-0 on Sunday.
Alexander (5-3) entered with two outs in the first inning after opener Hunter Bigge loaded the bases with two walks and a single. He fanned Jon Singleton on three pitches to escape that jam, then allowed two hits over the next four-plus innings to pick up his third straight win. He struck out five.
“We're throwing the ball really well right now,” Alexander said. “Starters are going deep, relievers are shutting it down. I like what I'm seeing with our arms and our bats, too. We're putting together good at-bats and scoring when we need to. It's fun to watch how we're playing baseball right now.”
The Rays, who were sellers at the trade deadline, have won seven of 10 and are five games out of an AL wild card spot. Houston and Tampa Bay are even in the standings at 57-54.
“Big win, there’s no doubt,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “They’re all big right now and that’s not going to end for a while.”
Across his last nine-plus innings, Alexander has given up one run on six hits, while walking one and striking out 12.
“Tyler set the tone for sure,” Cash said. “Our entire pitching group today did just a tremendous job. You shut that team down in this ballpark, that’s saying something.”
The Astros didn't get a hit after Yordan Alvarez singled off Alexander leading off the sixth, ending his day. Edwin Uceta came in and retired six straight batters, Manuel Rodriguez pitched the eighth and Pete Fairbanks closed it out for his 21st save in 23 opportunities.
“The back end of the bullpen did exactly what you'd expect,” Lowe said. “It's awesome to watch.”
Fairbanks has converted 11 straight save chances for Tampa Bay.
Spencer Arrighetti (4-10) struck out a career-high 12 batters in six innings, the most Ks by an Astros starter this season. As a team, the Astros have struck out at least 10 in 10 straight games, tied for the second-longest streak in major league history.
“Spencer was phenomenal. He couldn't do a better job,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Pounded the zone, he competed his (butt) off. That was a great performance."
Arrighetti allowed one run on five hits. Dylan Carlson led off the third with a double and came home on Lowe's one-out two-bagger.
Houston went 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position. The Astros have scored one run over the last 18 innings.
“I think we're going through a little funk,” Espada said. “I don't necessarily call it pressing. We'll start getting some big hits here pretty soon.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: 1B Yandy Diaz left the game after taking a line drive off his left hand in the sixth inning. Diaz grabbed his hand and was in considerable pain. X-rays were negative and he is considered day-to-day, Cash said.
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (neck stiffness) threw a 37-pitch live batting practice session, topping out at 94 mph, on Sunday morning. Espada said the plan is for Verlander to start a rehab assignment next weekend.
UP NEXT
Rays: LHP Jeffrey Springs (0-0, 4.91 ERA) opens a three-game series at St. Louis on Tuesday, facing Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray (10-6, 3.72).
Astros: RHP Hunter Brown (9-7, 4.11) will open a three-game series on Monday at Texas against Rangers LHP Andrew Heaney (4-11, 4.12 ERA).
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña homered as the Houston Astros improved to 7-0 in games started by Yusei Kikuchi by beating the scuffling Arizona Diamondbacks 11-5 on Saturday.
Altuve had three hits and scored three times. Peña’s 15th homer was a three-run shot, capping a five-run sixth inning that started with the Astros clinging to a one-run lead.
Houston entered with a 4 1/2-game lead in the AL West over Seattle.
Arizona, which has dropped three straight and seven of 10, began the day leading the Braves and Mets by 1 1/2 games for the second National League wild card.
Kikuchi (8-9) allowed four runs and seven hits over six innings. He struck out six, giving him a career-high 183 strikeouts this season.
The left-hander has a 3.07 ERA since joining the Astros in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 29, with a 32.1% strikeout rate.
Kevin Newman homered off Kikuchi in the fourth to put Arizona up 3-1, but Houston rallied for four runs against Eduardo Rodriguez in the bottom half.
Rodriguez (2-2) faced 10 batters and needed 47 pitches to get through the inning. Houston loaded the bases without a hit, and Chas McCormick tied the game with a two-run single. Yordan Alvarez’s two-out RBI single put the Astros on top and, after an error, Alex Bregman capped the flurry with a bases-loaded walk.
Alvarez finished with three hits and is batting .410 with 13 RBIs over his last 10 games.
Eugenio Suárez hit his 25th homer in the sixth to bring Arizona within a run, but the Astros broke open the game with the help of Peña’s three-run drive into the Astros’ bullpen in right-center field.
Dylan Floro was charged with all five Houston runs in the sixth.
Rodriguez gave up five runs, four earned, and seven hits over four innings with one strikeout.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Diamondbacks: C José Herrera returned to the lineup after he was removed from Friday’s game when he was hit on the back of the helmet by Kyle Tucker’s follow-through on a strikeout.
Astros: After returning from a 79-game absence Friday due to a fractured right shin, RF Kyle Tucker did not start but was available off the bench. ... INF Mauricio Dubón is dealing with a sore left thumb, which forced him out of Friday’s game after he jammed it diving into first base.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP Justin Verlander (3-5, 4.52 ERA) opposes RHP Ryne Nelson (10-6, 4.15) when the series concludes Sunday night.