ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- The Tampa Bay Rays broke out to an early lead big, but couldn't hold a 4-0 lead as the Houston Astros handed the Rays their first home series loss of 2017 with a 6-4, 10-inning loss in their series finale Sunday.
The Rays busted out early on Astros starter Joe Musgrove, Corey Dickerson struck out but reached on a wild pitch. He was erased on a fielder's choice by Evan Longoria, but Brad Miller got the scoring started with an RBI triple. Steven Souza Jr. followed with his fourth home run of the year off the foul pole in left to make it 3-0, and three consecutive singles by Shane Peterson, Rickie Weeks Jr, and Jesus Sucre extended the lead to 4-0.
Houston cut the lead to 4-2 in the third with a two-run homer by Carlos Correa off Andriese (2-0), and trimmed the lead back to a single run on a solo homer from Jose Altuve in the fifth.
However, Tampa Bay's bullpen dd an excellent job in stifling the Astros hitters, as Chase Whitley, Danny Farquhar, and Alex Colome combined to throw four innings of two-hit ball, with Colome going the final two frames for his fifth save.
The loss drops Tampa Bay back to .500 at 10-10 and 9-4 at home.
The Rays now depart on a three-city, eight-game road trip, beginning with a three-game series in Baltimore, as Chris Archer (2-0, 3.20 ERA) takes on Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0, 5.51 ERA) in Monday night's opener. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, with coverage starting on WDAE at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch, presented by Sykes Lakeland.