The Houston Astros took advantage of a poor beginning to Josh Fleming’s start, then held off the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 Saturday, ensuring a series victory at Tropicana Field.
Fleming, who had walked just four batters all year, and had not allowed a first-inning run in any start to his career, walked five (including an intentional walk) in six innings Saturday. Two of those walks came back-to-back to Yordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa in the first inning after giving up a leadoff double to Jose Altuve and a RBI single to Alex Bregman. Bregman and Alvarez would both score on a single by Yuli Gurriel, giving Houston a 3-0 lead.
The left-hander settled down after a rough first inning, getting through six innings and not allowing another hit.
But the Rays bats, which were nearly silent on Friday, were equally quiet Saturday. They managed just five hits on the afternoon, all singles, and did not get a runner into scoring position until the sixth thanks to back-to-back two-out singles by manuel margot and Brandon Lowe. Randy Arozarena grounded out to end the threat.
Tampa Bay’s only run again came in the ninth, as Lowe singled off Astros closer Ryan Pressly, moved to second on a wild pitch, and after Arozarena walked, consecutive groundouts by Joey Wendle and Yandy Diaz got Lowe over and drove him in.
The loss drops the Rays two games under .500 on the season at 13-15.
Tampa Bay will look to salvage the finale of the series Sunday afternoon as Rich Hill (1-1, 7.25 ERA) takes on Christian Javier (3-0, 0.87 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 1:10.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
