August 13, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (3) in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Discipline Congratulated by catcher Victor Caratini (17) after hitting a house run within the sixth inning of the Tampa Bay Rays. Obligatory Credit score: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports activities The Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays have assist alongside the way in which, however one membership wants it greater than the opposite.
Houston will search a three-game sequence sweep in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Wednesday after defeating Tampa Bay 3-2 on Tuesday.
The Astros used solo homers from Alex Bregman and Jeremy Pena, mixed with sturdy pitching from Yuki Kikuchi, to increase their lead over the Seattle Mariners within the American League West to 1 1/2 video games and prolonged their main league-best lively successful streak to seven video games.
Houston is 7-1 in 9 street video games, led by Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and Yana Diaz.
Bregman has hit a house run in 4 straight video games and is 16-for-37 (.432) with eight RBIs in eight straight video games.
“He is simply discovered his groove and his swing is true,” Houston coach Joe Espada mentioned of Bregman. “He is obtained a confidence that is by no means been missing, however now he is making some good swings.”
Rays supervisor Kevin Money mentioned after the sequence opener that the timing of the Astros’ arrival in Florida’s Gulf Coast wasn’t favorable.
It occurred once more on Tuesday.
“They went into the final sequence (in Boston) and all people was getting scorching,” mentioned Money, whose membership fell beneath .500 for the primary time since July 19. His manufacturing doubled that week, so it would simply be a matter of time earlier than we catch them at a nasty time.
Houston might not need assistance proper now, however the House Metropolis membership will get two key items again quickly.
Veteran pitcher Justin Verlander (stiff neck) and outfielder Kyle Tucker (proper shin contusion) are each set to return and could possibly be sturdy contributors because the Astros battle the Mariners for the division title.
Verlander, who received 260 video games throughout his illustrious profession, mentioned his private objective is to achieve 300 profession wins. The 41-year-old made a complete of 1 begin in 2020 and 2021 as a result of a number of accidents, together with Tommy John surgical procedure.
The precise-hander could have his remaining rehab session in Corpus Christi on Thursday earlier than he’ll seemingly rejoin the Astros.
The Rays had been helped on Tuesday by the arrival of Junior Caminero, thought of top-of-the-line prospects within the sport.
Money mentioned third base, previously occupied by All-Star Isaac Paredes earlier than being traded to the Chicago Cubs, will now be assigned to the highly effective Caminero.
The 21-year-old Dominican slugger went 1-for-4 with a strikeout in his 2024 debut on Tuesday. His solely hit, nonetheless, was a 116.3-mph infield single that he made two diving stops to stop a run on the recent nook.
“(His protection) was in all probability the spotlight of the sport. It was actually encouraging,” Money mentioned of the Santo Domingo native who jumped to the Rays from Double-A Montgomery late final season.
Tampa Bay’s present offense has been held to 2 factors or fewer in eight of its previous 12 video games.
Houston right-hander Ronel Blanco (9-6, 3.02 ERA) has began one in all his two profession video games in opposition to Tampa Bay and is 0-1 since. The ERA was 3.86. On August 3, he misplaced to the Rays after permitting two runs on 5 hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Tampa Bay’s Zach Little (5-8, 4.11 ERA) went 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in two begins in opposition to the Astros. The precise-hander struck out Blanco and Houston on Aug. 3, permitting one run on 4 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He fanned 3 times and left one.
–Scene-level media
