Rays 8, Astros 4: Bouncing back on the rubber match

The Rays wrap it up with a series win.

On the afternoon getaway day game, with the series tied 1-1, the Rays were hoping to come away with a series win before seeing the Blue Jays again for the second time this month. The Astros had been tough competition this series, and this game wouldn’t prove to be an easy one. Taj Bradley was on the mound for the Rays, while the Astros turned to Hunter Brown.

The Astros started things the worst way possible, as Jeremey Pena was hit be a pitch to start things, then old friend Isaac Paredes smashed a two-run homer to give Houston an early lead. Jose Altuve walked, then Yainer Diaz hit into a double-play to remove the threat. A strikeout ended the inning.

The Rays weren’t going to take that early lead lying down, though. Yandy Diaz started the inning with a single, then advanced to second on a flyout. With two outs, Jonathan Aranda singled, scoring Diaz. Jose Caballero walked, and then a Chandler Simpson single scored Aranda. Kameron Misner walked, keeping the inning alive, but it ended on the next at-bat. The score after one inning was 2-2.

In the top of the second, the Astros went 1-2-3, and the Rays did much the same in the home half of the inning.

Mauricio Dubon kicked off the top of the third with a single, but Bradley got the next three outs in order. The Rays, unfortunately, also went down in order in the home half.

Heading into the fourth, Jake Meyers got a two-out single for the Astros, but a Cam Smith strikeout ended the inning. With two outs in the home half of the inning, Curtis Mead hit a solo home run to break up the tie and put the Rays ahead. Ben Rortvedt reached on a fielding error but the Rays wouldn’t be able to score any additional runs.

Mauricio Dubon got a one-out walk in the top of the fifth, but a double play eliminated the baserunner and ended the inning. In the home half, Josh Lowe hammered a leadoff solo home run. Then Brandon Lowe homered right behind him.

With one out, Caballero singled, and then stole second. Simpson hit into fielder’s choice that sadly saw Cabellero out at home. Simpson then stole second. He was unfortunately then picked off stealing third to end the inning.

In the sixth, with two outs, Yainer Diaz singled, but the Astros left him stranded. Bennett Sousa replaced Brown, and gave up a one-out single to Mead. However, he was left hanging as two outs followed.

Bradley was done for the day with a final line of 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR on 84 pitches. Aside from that first-inning homer, it was a really solid outing from Taj. Garrett Cleavinger came in out of the bullpen. The Astros went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh. In the home half, Josh Lowe doubled, but three outs followed to leave him stranded.

Edwin Uceta was next out of the pen in the eighth and gave up a leadoff home run to Dubon. With one out, Paredes then hit a solo homer. The damage was limited to the one run, however, as Uceta kept the Astros from getting any additional baserunners. The Astros challenged a hit-by-pitch call that resulted in a bit of an argument and saw one of the strangest moments of the season as Kevin Cash was ejected, but once he was gone, the umpires admitted publicly that he was correct. Unreal.

Forrest Whitley was the new Cardinals pitcher. He gave up a one-out walk to Misner, who then stole second. Then Mead walked. Yandy Diaz then flipped into hero mode with a three-run homer.

Josh Lowe then walked. Brandon Lowe walked right behind him. Steven Okert came in from the bullpen and got the final out of the inning.

Pete Fairbanks was on in the top of the ninth, hoping to hold the score and finalize the Rays’ win. He gave up a leadoff single to Christian Walker. After the one hit, though, Fairbanks got three outs in a row to end the game and secure the win.

Final: Rays 8, Astros 4