Rays 1, Astros 0
HOUSTON -- Right-hander Chris Archer pitched a one-hitter for the third shutout of his career and the Tampa Bay Rays salvaged a series split with a 1-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park.
Archer (11-9) allowed one walk and finished with 11 strikeouts while throwing 98 pitches. He retired the final 15 batters he faced.
Archer's first career shutout came on July 14, 2013, when he gave up five hits in a 5-0 victory over the Astros.
The Rays (60-61) limited the Astros to eight runs in the four-game series. Houston (66-56) won the middle two games in extra innings.
Rays left fielder Desmond Jennings knocked in the only run of the game with his two-out single in the fourth inning, scoring second baseman Logan Forsythe. Jennings finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
Archer began the game with a four-pitch walk of Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who was erased for the third out of the inning while trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt.
Archer set the Astros down in order in the second, third and fourth.
Astros right fielder Colby Rasmus led off the fifth with a single for the first hit against Archer, who responded by retiring the next three batters to strand Rasmus at first.
NOTES: Rays LHP Jake McGee will undergo arthroscopic surgery Friday to repair a left knee meniscus tear. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks. McGee underwent an MRI exam Thursday morning in St. Petersburg and was examined by team orthopedist Koco Eaton. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list, and LHP Enny Romero was recalled from Triple A Durham to replace him on the roster. ... Needing reinforcements for their overworked bullpen, the Astros recalled RHP Vince Velasquez from Double-A Corpus Christi and optioned RHP Josh Fields to Corpus Christi. Fields was 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA over his past 17 appearances but he worked four games in five days. Velasquez will provide long relief. ... Houston OF George Springer (wrist) is unlikely to take live batting practice before the club departs on a six-game, seven-day road trip next week. Springer has been swinging a fungo bat in the cage.