ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The first month of Austin Pruitt's first season in the majors has been a rough ride. Things are looking up right now, though, for the Tampa Bay Rays' rookie reliever.
Pruitt improved to 2-0 on the season after tossing 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief, and Tim Beckham's third straight hit came during a four-run sixth inning that helped carry the Rays past the Houston Astros 6-3 on Saturday night for their fourth win in five games.
"When hitters are in a slump, they've got to swing their way out of it," Pruitt said. "With pitchers, you've got to pitch your way out of it."
Pruitt, a 27-year-old right-hander who allowed 24 of the first 41 major leaguers he faced to reach base, has now faced the minimum 17 over his last two appearances, both wins.
"It's tough to go out there and have a few bad ones in a row, but they were all great learning experiences for me," he said.
"It seemed like every ball that was hit was finding a hole (in Pruitt's first six games) and that can scare you out of the zone a little bit," manager Kevin Cash said. "I think now he's back to what made him so good in the minor leagues and in spring training."
Beckham, who tripled and singled in two at-bats against Houston starter Charlie Morton (1-2), drove in a run with his single in the sixth off reliever Will Harris.
Evan Longoria, Steven Souza Jr. and Corey Dickerson had two hits each for the Rays, who snapped the Astros' three-game winning streak.
Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Astros center fielder George Springer, playing in his major league-leading 205th straight game, left in the fifth with a tight left hamstring. Manager A.J. Hinch said it appeared unlikely Spring will play Sunday.
Houston took an early 2-0 lead when Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve hit their first home runs of the season off Rays starter Blake Snell.
After Longoria's two-run double tied it in the fifth for the Rays, the Astros took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Altuve scored from second base on a grounder to first baseman Logan Morrison. But the Rays took control in their half of the inning behind Pruitt.
"It wasn't our best night," Hinch said. "You're going to have games like this sometimes. Defensively, we didn't play great. We really didn't piece together at-bat after at-bat when we did have some baserunners."
Snell gave up three runs on three hits and five walks in five innings. In 21 1/3 innings over four starts, the left-hander has given up 15 hits and 15 walks while striking out 15.
Morton gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings. Harris gave up three hits to the four batters he faced in the big sixth inning and gave up his first run of the season.
PICKOFF SPECIAL
Rays RHP Alex Cobb became the first pitcher in 14 years to pick off the same runner twice in a game with straight pickoffs on Friday. According to Elias, Cobb's two pickoffs of Jose Altuve marked the first time it happened since Cleveland's Terry Mulholland caught Desi Relaford of Kansas City twice on Sept. 11, 2003.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi threw 37 pitches during his first bullpen session since going on the 10-day disabled April 16 with a strained left hamstring. ... CF Kevin Kiermaier struck out three times before being lifted for a pinch hitter on his 27th birthday. He had left Friday's game early due to illness. ... RHP Tommy Hunter left with a tight right calf after facing three batters in the sixth. ... With LHP Xavier Cedeno on the 10-day disabled list because of left forearm tightness, Cash said RHP Danny Farquhar will have a "very heavy left-handed role" in the bullpen.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1) will take the hill in Sunday's series finale. He has allowed 20 hits and walked five over 15 1/3 innings in his three starts.
Rays: RHP Matt Andriese (1-0) is Sunday's starter. He has given up 18 homers over 78 2/3 innings in 17 appearances since last year's All-Star break.
Houston Astros
Pruitt improved to 2-0 on the season after tossing 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief, and Tim Beckham's third straight hit came during a four-run sixth inning that helped carry the Rays past the Houston Astros 6-3 on Saturday night for their fourth win in five games.
"When hitters are in a slump, they've got to swing their way out of it," Pruitt said. "With pitchers, you've got to pitch your way out of it."
Pruitt, a 27-year-old right-hander who allowed 24 of the first 41 major leaguers he faced to reach base, has now faced the minimum 17 over his last two appearances, both wins.
"It's tough to go out there and have a few bad ones in a row, but they were all great learning experiences for me," he said.
"It seemed like every ball that was hit was finding a hole (in Pruitt's first six games) and that can scare you out of the zone a little bit," manager Kevin Cash said. "I think now he's back to what made him so good in the minor leagues and in spring training."
Beckham, who tripled and singled in two at-bats against Houston starter Charlie Morton (1-2), drove in a run with his single in the sixth off reliever Will Harris.
Evan Longoria, Steven Souza Jr. and Corey Dickerson had two hits each for the Rays, who snapped the Astros' three-game winning streak.
Alex Colome pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Astros center fielder George Springer, playing in his major league-leading 205th straight game, left in the fifth with a tight left hamstring. Manager A.J. Hinch said it appeared unlikely Spring will play Sunday.
Houston took an early 2-0 lead when Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve hit their first home runs of the season off Rays starter Blake Snell.
After Longoria's two-run double tied it in the fifth for the Rays, the Astros took a 3-2 lead in the sixth when Altuve scored from second base on a grounder to first baseman Logan Morrison. But the Rays took control in their half of the inning behind Pruitt.
"It wasn't our best night," Hinch said. "You're going to have games like this sometimes. Defensively, we didn't play great. We really didn't piece together at-bat after at-bat when we did have some baserunners."
Snell gave up three runs on three hits and five walks in five innings. In 21 1/3 innings over four starts, the left-hander has given up 15 hits and 15 walks while striking out 15.
Morton gave up five runs and eight hits in five innings. Harris gave up three hits to the four batters he faced in the big sixth inning and gave up his first run of the season.
PICKOFF SPECIAL
Rays RHP Alex Cobb became the first pitcher in 14 years to pick off the same runner twice in a game with straight pickoffs on Friday. According to Elias, Cobb's two pickoffs of Jose Altuve marked the first time it happened since Cleveland's Terry Mulholland caught Desi Relaford of Kansas City twice on Sept. 11, 2003.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi threw 37 pitches during his first bullpen session since going on the 10-day disabled April 16 with a strained left hamstring. ... CF Kevin Kiermaier struck out three times before being lifted for a pinch hitter on his 27th birthday. He had left Friday's game early due to illness. ... RHP Tommy Hunter left with a tight right calf after facing three batters in the sixth. ... With LHP Xavier Cedeno on the 10-day disabled list because of left forearm tightness, Cash said RHP Danny Farquhar will have a "very heavy left-handed role" in the bullpen.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-1) will take the hill in Sunday's series finale. He has allowed 20 hits and walked five over 15 1/3 innings in his three starts.
Rays: RHP Matt Andriese (1-0) is Sunday's starter. He has given up 18 homers over 78 2/3 innings in 17 appearances since last year's All-Star break.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Houston - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| Springer struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Beltrán flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Altuve flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Dickerson lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Kiermaier struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| Correa flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Gattis homered to right center (415 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Bregman walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Gurriel grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Bregman out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Miller grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Morrison grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| González struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Marisnick struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| Springer walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Beltrán grounded into fielder's choice to third, Springer out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Norris fouled out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| Peterson struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Beckham tripled to deep right. | 1 | 0 |
| Dickerson grounded out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| Altuve homered to left center (423 feet). | 2 | 0 |
| Correa flied out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Gattis walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Bregman popped out to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| Gurriel struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Kiermaier struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| Longoria doubled to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Miller lined out to right. | 2 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. reached on infield single to shortstop, Longoria to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Morrison walked, Souza Jr. to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Norris grounded out to first. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| González walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Marisnick reached on bunt single to first, González to second. | 2 | 0 |
| Springer grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Marisnick out at second, González to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Beltrán grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Aoki in right field. | 2 | 0 |
| Peterson struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Beckham singled to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Dickerson singled to right, Beckham to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Kiermaier struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Longoria doubled to deep center, Beckham and Dickerson scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Miller grounded out to third. | 2 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| Altuve walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Hunter relieved Snell. | 2 | 2 |
| Correa flied out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Altuve stole second. | 2 | 2 |
| Gattis grounded out to first, Altuve scored. | 3 | 2 |
| Pruitt relieved Hunter. | 3 | 2 |
| Bregman flied out to right. | 3 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Charlie Morton pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Souza Jr. doubled to deep center. | 3 | 2 |
| Morrison walked. | 3 | 2 |
| Norris singled to center, Souza Jr. to third, Morrison to second. | 3 | 2 |
| Harris relieved Morton. | 3 | 2 |
| Peterson reached on infield single to second, Souza Jr. scored, Morrison to third, Norris to second. | 3 | 3 |
| Beckham singled to right, Morrison scored, Norris to third, Peterson to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Dickerson grounded into fielder's choice to second, Norris out at home, Peterson to third, Beckham to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Bourjos hit for Kiermaier. | 3 | 4 |
| Bourjos singled to center, Peterson and Beckham scored, Dickerson to third, Bourjos to second advancing on throw. | 3 | 6 |
| Hoyt relieved Harris. | 3 | 6 |
| Longoria lined out to shortstop. | 3 | 6 |
| Miller struck out looking. | 3 | 6 |
| 4 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Austin Pruitt pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| Bourjos in center field. | 3 | 6 |
| Gurriel grounded out to second. | 3 | 6 |
| González grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 6 |
| Marisnick struck out looking. | 3 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| James Hoyt pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 3 | 6 |
| Morrison struck out swinging. | 3 | 6 |
| Norris lined out to third. | 3 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Austin Pruitt pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| Aoki lined out to left. | 3 | 6 |
| Beltrán flied out to left. | 3 | 6 |
| Altuve struck out swinging. | 3 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Sipp pitching for Houston | HOU | TB |
| Sipp relieved Hoyt. | 3 | 6 |
| Peterson struck out swinging. | 3 | 6 |
| Beckham lined out to left. | 3 | 6 |
| Dickerson doubled to right. | 3 | 6 |
| Bourjos grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | HOU | TB |
| Colomé relieved Pruitt. | 3 | 6 |
| Correa flied out to right. | 3 | 6 |
| Gattis lined out to center. | 3 | 6 |
| Bregman singled to right. | 3 | 6 |
| Gurriel grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Houston Astros
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springer RF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | .216 | .284 | .527 |
Aoki RF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .297 | .341 | .405 |
| Beltrán DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .258 | .279 | .394 |
| Altuve 2B | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | .304 | .380 | .406 |
| Correa SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .196 | .292 | .250 |
| Gattis C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 20 | .294 | .415 | .441 |
| Bregman 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .258 | .370 | .323 |
| Gurriel 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .294 | .321 | .431 |
| González LF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | .150 | .292 | .375 |
| Marisnick CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .300 | .417 | .600 |
| Totals | 29 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 127 | |||
| BATTING HR: Gattis (1, 2nd inning off Snell 0 on, 1 Out); Altuve (1, 4th inning off Snell 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Gattis 2 (7), Altuve (6) GIDP: Gurriel, Springer Astros RISP: 0-3 (Springer 0-1, Gattis 0-1, Beltrán 0-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Altuve (7, 2nd base off Hunter/Norris) | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| RF SPRINGER (LEFT HAMSTRING DISCOMFORT) LEFT GAME BOT 5TH |
Game Information
| Stadium | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Attendance | 17,008 (54.8% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:05 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - CB Bucknor, First Base - Manny Gonzalez, Second Base - Fieldin Culbreth, Third Base - Mark Carlson |
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