The Tampa Bay Rays (14-15) defeated the Houston Astros (15-13) on Sunday afternoon at the Trop. The win avoided a sweep at the hand of the Astros in a rematch of the 2020 ALCS.
The Astros were able to get on the board first, getting a Yordan Alverez home run in the fourth. Then in the fifth, they got RBIs from Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley to build a 3-0 lead.
The momentum of this game turned in the bottom of the fifth when Austin Meadows blasted a three-run home run to tie the game. After each team exchanged runs in the sixth, Manuel Margot came through with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh that would give the Rays a lead they would not give up.
Rich Hill got the start and pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out four and walking one. Jeffrey Springs (2-0, 4.09) got the win out of the bullpen, while Diego Castillo converted his seventh save with a shutout inning in the ninth.
The Rays now head west for a four game series against the Angels in Los Angeles. The first game of the series is scheduled for 9:38 Monday night - pregame coverage begins with Jay Recher and the Inside Pitch at 8:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES