The Tampa Bay Rays bullpen could not hold 2-0 or 3-2 leads over the Houston Astros, and after loading the bases in the ninth, JT Chargois walked in both the tying and winning runs, giving Houston a 4-3 walkoff win Tuesday at Minute Maid Park.
Tiesdya’s game aapeared like it as going to be all Rays, as they started the contest with Brandon Lowe reaching on a base hit off Astros starter Jose Urquidy, and Yandy Diaz following with a two-run homer to left, his 13th of the season.
Meanwhile, Michael Wacha looked like the pitcher fans in St. Louis saw excel for years with the Cardinals, as he did not allow a hit, and walked just two while striking out six in a 61-pitch performance to get through five innings.
But the relievers would allow the Astros to chip away at the lead with the solo home run. It was Alex Bregman that cut the lead back to 2-1 in the sixth with his 12th of the year off Andrew Kittredge, and Jose Altuve tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with his 31st of the season off David Robertson, working a second inning of relief.
Randy Arozarena broke the tie in the top of the ninth inning, blasting his 20th home run of the year off Phil Maton to right.
But Houston was able to get the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth aboard, as Yordan Alvarez took a Josh Fleming pitch and chopped it into the ground for an infield single, and Carlos Correa’s ground ball was trapped by Brandon Lowe, but Tampa Bay was unable to get either Astro out on the fielder’s choice. Aledmys Diaz was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Kevin Cash brought in Chargois, who walked Chas McCormick to force in Alvarez to tie the game, and then walked pinch-hitter Jason Castro to end the game.
The magic number for the Rays to clinch home field remains 1.
Drew Rasmussen (3-1, 3.04 ERA)vwill look to even the series Wednesday, taking on Luis Garcia (11-7, 3.23 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 8:10.
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.
