The Tampa Bay Rays (57-54) defeated the Houston Astros (57-54) 1-0 on Sunday afternoon to win the three-game series at Minute Maid Park.
Brandon Lowe hit a RBI double in the third inning to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. That would be the only offense of the game, and enough to lift the Rays to the win.
The Rays used a bullpen day to earn the shutout. Hunter Bigge got only two outs in the first before leaving with the bases loaded, but Tyler Alexander (5-3, 5.43) came in and got the final out of the first. He pitched four more innings of shutout baseball to finish with four and one-third innings of work in which he struck out five and walked one to get the win. Pete Fairbanks earned his 21st save while striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
The Rays will now travel to St. Louis and be off on Monday. They begin a three-game series against the Cardinals on Tuesday night. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 7:45 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES