Astros 3, Rays 2 (13 innings)
HOUSTON -- Shortstop Carlos Correa slapped a two-out single the opposite way to right field in the bottom of the 13th inning, giving the Houston Astros their second consecutive walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays by a final of 3-2 on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Correa drove home center fielder Colby Rasmus, who worked a one-out walk off Rays right-hander Matt Andriese (3-3) and advanced to third when second baseman Jose Altuve followed with a single to left.
The Astros (66-55) claimed their third consecutive walk-off win, with right-hander Josh Fields (4-1) earning the victory. Six Houston relievers combined to work six scoreless innings, allowing just three baserunners.
One night after blowing a lead in the latter innings, the Rays (59-61) suffered the same fate. Closer Brad Boxberger, who suffered the loss on Tuesday night after surrendering a walk-off home run to Marwin Gonzalez, opened the bottom of the ninth by allowing a bloop double to Astros third baseman Jed Lowrie. Lowrie scored the tying run when designated hitter Evan Gattis dribbled a single to left.
The rally got left-hander Dallas Keuchel off the hook. Keuchel, who allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts in seven innings, was in line to suffer his first home loss in 13 decisions. Instead, his opportunity to match the franchise mark of 13 consecutive home wins set by right-hander Danny Darwin (1989-90) remains intact.
In typical Keuchel fashion, an efficient inning turned his start around.
Keuchel labored through the top of the first, surrendering a leadoff double to Rays center fielder Brandon Guyer before losing left fielder Desmond Jennings to an errant 3-2 pitch. But Keuchel recovered with a key one-out strikeout of second baseman Logan Forsythe, and after escaping the first inning unscathed despite 27 pitches, Keuchel returned in the second and retired the side in order on just six pitches.
Suddenly, Keuchel was in rhythm. He worked around a one-out single from Guyer in the third, induced a double play after Forsythe opened the fourth with a single to center field, and set down the Rays in order in the fifth and sixth innings, carrying a tenuous 1-0 lead into the seventh.
But momentum swung in the second thanks in large part to a fan in the first row down the first-base line that interfered with a potential out. Astros first baseman Luis Valbuena tracked down a popup off the bat of Forsythe leading off the inning, but failed to make the catch when he extended his glove into the stands and he bumped into a gloved fan.
Two batters later, Beckham lined a triple to right-center field, scoring Forsythe with the tying run. Rays first baseman James Loney followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Beckham for a 2-1 lead.
The Rays were in position to steal the lead thanks to the splendid pitching of Karns, who surrendered a solo home run to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the first and shackled Houston immediately thereafter.
The Astros did manage to push three baserunners into scoring position against Karns, who in turn recorded consecutive outs in the third and fifth innings before inducing an inning-ending double play from Astros designated hitter Evan Gattis to cap is outing in the sixth.
Karns allowed one run on six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.
NOTES: Rays LHP Jake McGee went to Florida on Wednesday for an examination of his left knee, which he tweaked Tuesday night. McGee worked a season-long 1 2/3 innings and threw a season-high 33 pitches in a blown save. He surrendered one run, three hits and two walks. ... Astros RHP Lance McCullers (5-4, 3.17 ERA) will start the series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday after getting five strikeouts in three innings for Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday night. He allowed just one hit in his first appearance since being optioned Aug. 3 for rest. ... The Rays optioned rookie LHP Enny Romero to Triple-A Durham and recalled rookie RHP Matt Andriese. Romero and Andriese shuttled back and forth from Durham a combined nine times this season, with Andriese starting his fifth tour.