Rays 4, Astros 2
For the second day in a row, the Tampa Bay Rays used great pitching and spectacular defense to defeat the Houston Astros. The Astros had some more hard-hit outs, but could not string anything together. It took a three run-home run from Manuel Margot and some sparkling defensive plays for the Rays to get the win, 4-2.
Rays Led The Whole Way Over Astros
The Rays got the scoring started early. A Jose Altuve throwing error extended the first inning, and it proved to be a costly mistake. Two pitches later, Margot gave the Rays a 3-0 lead on a home run to center. The Astros were held off the board until the sixth inning, when Carlos Correa blasted a solo shot to left-center field. Correa’s fifth homer of this postseason brought the score to 3-1.
In the seventh, Mike Zunino hit a solo home run that Statcast registered at 454 feet. It really was only the second mistake Lance McCullers Jr. made all day. The Astros starter went seven great innings, giving up four hits, walking none, and striking out 11. In fact, the four hits McCullers gave up were the only four the Rays had all day. Unfortunately for Houston, two of the four hits were home runs.
The Astros did not go down without a fight. In the ninth, Houston loaded the bases with nobody out against Nick Anderson. George Springer grounded into a double play, but it did score a run. Anderson then walked the next two batters to load the bases again, but got Alex Bregman to line out to center.
Houston Hit Into Tough Luck
The story for the Astros in both games of the series has been some tough outs. Houston actually out-hit Tampa 10-4 in Game Two, but was unable to string anything together because of some game-changing defensive plays. The most namely of these plays came in the second inning. Margot, fresh off hitting a home run, made an incredible jumping catch at the wall in foul territory. The right fielder tumbled over the wall but held onto the ball for the third out. Houston had runners on second and third with Springer at bat when Margot left his mark defensively. All day Willy Adames and Joey Wendle were making diving and sliding plays, robbing the Astros of numerous more base hits.
Pressure Is On Astros In Game Three
After dropping the first two games of the ALCS, the Astros are on the ropes against the formidable Rays. Game Three will be as close to a must win as it gets for the Astros. Ryan Yarbrough and Jose Urquidy will face off in a pivotal Game Three.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
