The Houston Astros (32-27) shut out the Tampa Bay Rays (30-29) 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in Houston.
Houston got their only offense in the first inning when Christian Walker hit a RBI single off of Taj Bradley to take a 1-0 lead, which would prove to be the final score. Taj (4-5, 3.95) allowed just the one unearned run in the first inning - he allowed three hits in seven innings of work, striking out ten while walking two.
Taj took the tough-luck loss because the Rays were unable to get anything offensively. Hunter Brown (8-3, 1.83) was dominant, allowing just one hit in six shutout innings in which he struck out five and walked four. The Astros bullpen combined to keep the game a shutout through the final three innings, including closer Josh Hader pitching a perfect ninth inning to earn his fifteenth save.
The back-and-forth series in Houston saw the Rays win game one 13-3 on Thursday night, before the Astros won game two 2-1 on Friday. On Saturday the Rays had another big offensive day, winning 16-3, before the Astros bounced back to win the finale 1-0 on Sunday.
The Rays now return home and are off Monday before beginning a three-game series against the Rangers on Tuesday. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 7:35 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting Inside Pitch at 6:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES