The Astros’ margin for error in the AL West got smaller Saturday night.
Houston fell 3-2 to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, dropping its second straight game in the series. With Texas beating Arizona 6-2, the Astros’ division lead is down to two games with 13 remaining.
The pitching kept Houston within reach. The offense, once again, could not do enough.
Paredes Strikes First
Isaac Paredes gave the Astros an immediate lead, driving Ian Seymour’s first-inning pitch to left-center for his 20th home run of the season. Houston had a chance to add on when José Altuve walked and Yainer Diaz singled, but Seymour struck out Daulton Varsho and Christian Walker to end the inning.
Peter Lambert kept the Rays off the board through four innings before Tampa Bay broke through in the fifth. Victor Mesa Jr. and Chandler Simpson opened the inning with singles, and Cedric Mullins moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Richie Palacios then singled home both runners to give the Rays a 2-1 lead.
Houston answered in the sixth. Altuve doubled with two outs, and Diaz followed with an RBI single to left to tie the game at 2.
Rays Take the Lead Back
Lambert returned for the seventh and allowed a leadoff double to Liam Hicks before Bennett Sousa took over. After a walk and a forceout put runners at the corners, pinch-hitter Nick Madrigal lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score pinch-runner Kenny Piper and put Tampa Bay back in front, 3-2.
Lambert took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits over six innings-plus. He did not issue a walk and struck out four. Sousa, AJ Blubaugh, and Bryan King kept Tampa Bay from adding to the lead.
Another Quiet Night for the Offense
Houston had one last real opportunity in the eighth. Jeremy Peña drew a leadoff walk and eventually reached third on Diaz’s third hit of the night, but Varsho struck out to strand runners at the corners. The Astros went down in order in the ninth.
Diaz accounted for three of Houston’s five hits. Paredes’ home run and Altuve’s double were the other two. The Astros struck out 14 times, including 10 against Seymour in six innings. Houston was without Yordan Alvarez for a second consecutive game because of his injured right ankle.
AL West Lead Down to Two
Houston falls to 75-74 with 13 games remaining. Texas improved to 73-76 with its win over Arizona, cutting the Astros’ AL West lead to two games.
The Rays have already secured the series after winning Friday’s opener 3-1 on Junior Caminero’s walk-off home run. Houston will try to avoid the sweep Sunday at Tropicana Field.
Hayden Wesneski (5-1, 3.35 ERA) is scheduled to start for Houston against Rays right-hander Freddy Peralta (8-11, 4.82 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 12:40 p.m. CT.
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