The Astros were looking pretty good going into the eighth…
With another 10,046 of their best friends on hand, the Rays answered Houston’s win on Monday with some late signs of life on Tuesday.
Brandon Walter made his return to the bigs after an inauspicious debut two seasons ago. This time around, he struck out five over five shutout innings, giving up three hits and a walk. Shawn Dubin followed him with two shutout innings of relief.
In the meantime, Jake Meyers was ensuring an early Astros lead with a second-inning RBI-double. The lead was doubled in turn one frame later on an Isaac Paredes (8) solo home run.
The majority of the contest had the Astros leading 2-0 — From Paredes homer in the third until Jonathan Aranda’s two-run single with one out in the eighth — with a Taylor Walls walkoff sacrifice fly added an inning later.
Steven Okert blew the save, allowing two earned runs in 1⁄3 of an inning. That blows his ERA up to an unsightly 2.01. Kaleb Ort (1-1, 2.70) surrendered the walkoff sacrifice. Houston pitching really was mostly good in tonight’s disappointing loss. Jose Altuve, Victor Caratini, and Jake Meyers led Houston’s offense with two hits each. Chas McCormick and Christian Walker struck out three times each, although Chaz did collect one base hit.
Box Score
The rubber match — as it were — kicks off with a first pitch set for 12:10PM CT. Hunter Brown (6-2, 1.43) faces off against Taj Bradley (3-3, 4.80). Can the Astros hit one at the buzzer?
