The Houston Astros (103-55) shut out the Tampa Bay Rays (86-72) 2-0 on Saturday evening in Houston. The loss puts the Rays, who have clinched a playoff berth, three games behind the Blue Jays for the top Wild Card spot. Both teams only have four games remaining in the regular season.
The Astros got both of their runs in the third inning. After Jeremy Pena had a RBI single, Shane McClanahan's wild pitch allowed Jose Altuve to score to give Houston a 2-0 lead. That would prove to be enough as the Astros evened the three game series at 1-1.
Other than that third inning, McClanahan (12-8, 2.54) had a solid night for the Rays. He allowed just the two earned runs in five innings while allowing five hits, striking out two and walking one. However, Astros pitcher Cristian Javier (11-9, 2.54) kept the Rays bats guessing all night, pitching six innings of shutout baseball in which he allowed two hits while striking out seven and walking two.
The Rays and Astros now meet in the rubber game of the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 2:10 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage with This Week In Rays Baseball at 12:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES