Defensive Lapses End Rays Winning Streak

ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays hit three solo homers, but a number of poor plays in the field allowed the Houston Astros to come back and eventually defeat them 6-3 Friday night, ending Tampa Bay's three-game winning streak.

The Rays got a leadoff homer from Corey Dickerson, a second inning solo blast from Logan Morrison, and a third-inning solo shot from Evan Longoria, but had trouble even getting baserunners aboard afterward.

Alex Cobb gave up a solo homer of his own, to Carlos Beltran in the second, but had his real trouble hit him in the fourth.  The right-hander was close to ending the inning on just 14 pitches, when Derek Norris couldn't find a foul popup off the bat of Beltran.  Houston's DH ended up singling, followed by a single off the bat of Alex Bregman.  A base hit by Brian McCann brought in Beltran, and Yuliesky Gurriel followed with a single, bringing in Bregman.

All in all, Cobb threw an additional 17 pitches following the dropped popup.

The game remained tied until the seventh, when Cobb gave up a single to McCann, a double to Gurriel, and walked Nori Aoki, all with nobody out.  Kevin Cash went to Jumbo Diaz, who got the ground ball he needed from George Springer, but Longoria couldn't field it cleanly had had to take the out at third base and allow McCann to score the go-ahead run.

Houston added a pair in the ninth off Danny Farquhar, who allowed a bunt single to McCann and a double to Gurriel.  Jake Marisnick then struck out, but George Springer drew a walk and Josh Reddick's sacrifice fly to deep center scored McCann.  Farquhar then uncorked a wild pitch to bring in Gurriel to make the deficit three runs.

Tampa Bay will look to rebound Saturday, as Blake Snell (0-2, 2.76 ERA) takes on Charlie Morton (1-1, 2.81 ERA).  First pitch is scheduled for 6:10, with coverage on WDAE starting at 5:00 with The Inside Pitch, presented by Sykes Lakeland.


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