The Rays sandwiched a tough loss around a couple of easy wins in taking 2 of 3 from the Astros while Toronto hardly ever seems to lose and swept their opponent, putting the Rays 2 1/2 back in the AL East.
Tampa Bay went up 5-0 after two and 10-0 after 4 on their way to a 13-1 rout of the Astros in the opener.
Danny Charlton has been feast or famine this season and today he ate, going 3 for 5 with a 2-run homer (#6) among his 5 RBI,
Willie Gutierrez was 2-5 with a 2-run triple and
Bobby Marin went 3-4 with a run-scoring single to lead the offense.
Joe Marlette (3-2) was great even though he didn't need to be at 5.1 5 0 0 2 8.
The Rays outhit Houston 7-4 in the second game but 3 of those Astros hits were homers leading to a 4-2 loss.
Chris Ferguson (2-2) was untouchable outside of a 2-homer, 3-run 3rd at 6 3 3 3 0 4 but the damage was done. The Rays fought back to 3-2 on a
Danny Charlton RBI double and
Joe Stack's 7th homer but couldn't plate anyone else.
Jake Westfall and
Joe Scheu led the Rays to a comfortable 7-2 win in the finale. The CF was 2-5 with a 3-run homer (#7) in the 5th which broke open a 1-0 game and Scheu (4-2) was in fine form at 6.1 6 2 1 1 1 4.
Joe Stack added a 2-run homer (#8).
Team record: 19-12. Next up: The homestand continues with the 14-17 White Sox visiting for 3 games.
