George Springer's two-run homer off Tyler Glasnow made sure that the Houston Astros would not go quietly from the postseason, forcing a fifth game in the American League Championship Series with a 4-2 decision over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday at Petco Park.
For the third time in the series, Jose Altuve would homer in the first inning off a Rays starter, taking Glasnow deep for a 1-0 lead.
Altuve would drive in Martin Maldonado in the third with a double to right, extending the Astros lead to 2-0.
Tampa Bay got on the board in the fourth, as Austin Meadows singled with one out in front of Randy Arozarena, who got a hanging breaking ball from Zack Greinke and sent it into the seats in left for his fifthe home run of the postseason, tying the game at 2-2.
But in the fifth, Houston would take the lead for good against Glasnow, as Martin Maldonado singled and George Springer took a 99 MPH fastball and sent it into the fourth level of seats in the Western Metal Supply building in left, giving the Astros a 4-2 lead.
Greinke worked in to and out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth by striking out Mike Brosseau to leave the sacks filled before turning the game over to the bullpen.
Christian Javier worked a scoreless seventh and eighth, but Willy Adames' double off Ryan Pressly in the ninth plated Joey Wendle to cut the deficit back to a single run at 4-3. A wild pitch moved Adames to third base, but Yoshi Tsutsugo lined out to right field to end the game.
Despite the loss, Tampa Bay holds on to a three games to one lead in the best-of-seven series.
The two team will play Game 5 Thursday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 5:07, with coverage on WDAE starting at 4:00 with The Inside Pitch.