Four-run sixth pushes Rays past Astros
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays had seven straight batters reach base to open the sixth inning and rallied for four runs and a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night at Tropicana Field.
Tampa Bay improved to 9-3 at home, holding Houston to four hits, two of them early solo home runs.
Rays shortstop Tim Beckham had three hits out of the No. 9 spot in the batting order, driving in the go-ahead run.
Down 3-2 in the sixth, the Rays erupted for four runs and five hits, chasing starter Charlie Morton (1-2) after he loaded the bases with no outs.
Steven Souza doubled, Logan Morrison walked and Derek Norris singled to load the bases and bring in reliever Will Harris. The bottom of the Rays lineup came through -- No. 8 hitter Shane Peterson hit a chopper for an infield single to tie the score at 3 and Beckham singled to left for a 4-3 lead.
Houston got one out at the plate, but then pinch hitter Peter Bourjos, subbing in when Kevin Kiermaier was limited by illness, hit a two-run single past a drawn-in infield for a 6-3 lead.
James Hoyt came in and got the last two outs to strand two runners in scoring position.
Rays reliever Austin Pruitt (2-0) had his second straight solid outing after 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win on Wednesday. He got the final out in the sixth and finished with 2 1/3 innings, lowering his season ERA to 7.94.
Closer Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Rays starter Blake Snell lasted only five innings but held Houston to three runs and three hits, again hurting himself with five walks, including Jose Altuve to open the sixth as the last batter he faced.
Houston had taken the lead in the top of the sixth on exceptional baserunning by Altuve, who walked and stole second. He took off on the pitch with Evan Gattis at the plate and never slowed down. Morrison couldn't get to the first-base bag and throw home in time to get Altuve, giving the Astros a 3-2 lead.
Morton started out strong, retiring the first eight batters he faced, including three strikeouts, until Beckham's triple off the wall in the third inning.
The Astros got two solo home runs off Snell, with Gattis hitting his first of the season in the second and Altuve getting his first in the fourth.
The Rays got a double from Longoria in the fourth, then a single from Souza to put runners at the corners with two outs. Morrison walked to load the bases, but Norris, who came into the game hitting just .167, grounded out to first to end the inning.
Tampa Bay got singles from Beckham and Corey Dickerson in the fifth, and with two outs, Longoria came through with another double, bringing in both runs to tie the score.
Astros outfielder George Springer, tied for the American League lead with seven home runs, left the game in the fifth inning after he pulled up running to first on a double play. There was no immediate word on the severity of the injury. Norichika Aoki replaced Springer.
NOTES: The Rays already have 10 players on the disabled list, including three relievers, but they may have another after RHP Tommy Hunter pulled up as he went to cover first base on a ground ball in the sixth inning. Hunter left the game with right calf tightness. ... When Rays RHP Alex Cobb picked off Houston 2B Jose Altuve twice in back-to-back innings Friday night, it marked the first time in 14 years that one pitcher had two straight pickoffs of the same runner in a game, since Cleveland's Terry Mulholland picked off Kansas City's Desi Relaford in 1993. ... For the second straight game, Rays OF Kevin Kiermaier left in the middle of the game due to illness. He was replaced in both games by Peter Bourjos. Saturday was his 27th birthday. Houston jumped out to a 2-0 lead on solo home runs by Evan Gattis and Altuve but saw the Rays tie the score in the fifth on a two-out, two-run double by Evan Longoria.