Rays 4, Astros 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays hit the All-Star break with positive momentum, having completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 4-3 win Sunday at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (46-45) twice rallied from one-run deficits, spoiling a homecoming for Tampa's Lance McCullers, who struck out 10 batters but couldn't get Houston (49-42) out of its offensive slump. The Astros scored seven total runs in their six-game losing streak.
Rays starter Matt Moore (1-0), in his second start back after Tommy John surgery, got his first win in 21 months, since September 2013.
After dropping 15 of 18 games before returning home Friday, the Rays got the sweep to move back above .500 entering the break. Tampa Bay's bullpen threw 10 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the series, including four innings Sunday. Closer Brad Boxberger pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save, his third in as many days.
McCullers, who three years ago graduated from Tampa's Jesuit High School, started out strong Sunday. He held the Rays to one hit in the first four innings while striking out eight batters and walking only one.
Houston took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI groundout by designated hitter Evan Gattis, after third baseman Marwin Gonzalez walked and shortstop Carlos Correa doubled off the wall in left.
The Rays had only one hit in the first four innings, but got two runs out of it, as left fielder David DeJesus had an RBI triple in the second, then scored on a wild pitch for a 2-1 lead.
That lead held until the fourth, when Moore gave up a two-run home run to second baseman Jose Altuve, his eighth of the season, for a Houston 3-2 lead.
The Rays grabbed the lead back in the fifth, getting singles from DeJesus and shortstop Jake Elmore to lead off the inning, then a bases-loaded walk to designated hitter John Jaso and an RBI groundout by right fielder Grady Sizemore for a 4-3 lead.
NOTES: The Rays placed SS Asdrubal Cabrera on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring suffered in the second inning of Saturday's win. IF Tim Beckham was recalled from Triple-A Durham to take his place, with IF/OF Jake Elmore starting at shortstop on Sunday. ... Houston recalled OF L.J. Hoes from Triple-A Fresno on Sunday and had him batting seventh and playing in right field. RHP Dan Straily was optioned to Fresno to make room. ... Astros RHP Lance McCullers played a homecoming game Sunday, having starred at Tampa's Jesuit High School before being drafted by Houston. ... With Saturday's win, the Rays have won 11 straight games against left-handed starters, a club record.