HOUSTON -- A week ago, the Tampa Bay Rays were feeling pretty low after squandering a late lead in a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the New York Yankees in 11 innings.
Seven days later this group is feeling much better after taking three of four from the Houston Astros, capped by a 5-3 win on Thursday night.
Steven Souza Jr. homered and drove in three runs, and Corey Dickerson added three hits and made a dazzling defensive play to preserve the lead for Tampa Bay.
"They should be feeling really proud of themselves the way they came in here and played, performed against ... the best team in the American League," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We gave them four good games."
The Rays have bounced back after losing the series opener 14-7 to hand the Astros three straight losses for the first time since June 11-13.
Houston led by one entering the seventh inning when Francisco Liriano (6-6) took over for starter Collin McHugh to make his Astros debut after a trade from Toronto on Monday. Liriano retired Adeiny Hechavarria before a single by Dickerson. The left-hander then walked Lucas Duda and was lifted for Chris Devenski.
A wild pitch by Devenski allowed both runners to advance before Evan Longoria reached on an error by third baseman Alex Bregman, tying it at 3. Logan Morrison struck out before Souza's double to left field put the Rays up 5-3.
"We didn't get through that inning very well," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "It was pretty symbolic to how things are going for us. Just a little bit off on a couple of things."
Houston got consecutive singles from Jose Altuve and Bregman off Sergio Romo with two outs in the seventh, and the pair executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position. But then Dickerson sprinted to catch a line drive hit by Yuli Gurriel on the run in left field, leaving the Astros emptyhanded.
"I'd give it five stars," Souza said.
The Rays got another good outing from their bullpen, with Brad Boxberger (3-3), Romo, Tommy Hunter and Alex Colome combining for five scoreless innings after Blake Snell left with two on and none out in the fifth. Colome pitched a perfect ninth to convert a save for the third straight day and give him 33 this season.
Souza, who missed the previous two games with a bruised left foot, hit his 23rd home run to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the sixth.
"I'm thankful that I was as productive as I was. I couldn't have told you that was going to happen," he said. "When I found out it wasn't broken, that was a good sign that I was going to try to push through it."
Snell allowed seven hits and three runs in four-plus innings, extending his winless streak to 15 starts.
McHugh gave up five hits and two runs -- one earned -- in six innings during his third start this season after spending most of the year on the disabled list.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double off the wall by Gurriel.
Brad Miller walked to start the second before Wilson Ramos reached on catcher's interference. Dickerson's two-out single scored Miller to tie it at 1.
Altuve's solo homer into the bullpen in right-center with one out in the third put Houston's on top 2-1.
Snell walked Jake Marisnick with nobody out in the fifth before a single by Altuve. Bregman's RBI single came next to push the lead to 3-1 and chase Snell.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros OF George Springer continues to increase his activity as he recovers from a left quadriceps strain, but there is still no timetable for his return.
DICKERSON'S CATCH
The Rays were raving about Dickerson's grab after the game and Cash noted it was an indication of how much progress the outfielder has made on defense this season.
"This is not an easy ballpark to play left field in," Cash said. "Off the bat I thought double off the wall, and just an amazing play."
TOUGH DEBUT
Liriano, who pitched in relief for the first time all season, was disappointed he didn't make a better impression.
"I was trying to do a little too much," he said. "That's not the first game you want to have. Try and keep my head up and come ready to play tomorrow."
UP NEXT
Rays: Jake Faria (5-1, 2.93 ERA) will start when the team opens a three-game interleague series against the Brewers. Faria allowed three hits and three runs while walking a career-high five in a career-low four innings last time out, but did not get a decision as Tampa Bay beat the Yankees 5-3.
Astros: Brad Peacock (9-1, 2.62) pitches Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Toronto.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Seven days later this group is feeling much better after taking three of four from the Houston Astros, capped by a 5-3 win on Thursday night.
Steven Souza Jr. homered and drove in three runs, and Corey Dickerson added three hits and made a dazzling defensive play to preserve the lead for Tampa Bay.
"They should be feeling really proud of themselves the way they came in here and played, performed against ... the best team in the American League," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "We gave them four good games."
The Rays have bounced back after losing the series opener 14-7 to hand the Astros three straight losses for the first time since June 11-13.
Houston led by one entering the seventh inning when Francisco Liriano (6-6) took over for starter Collin McHugh to make his Astros debut after a trade from Toronto on Monday. Liriano retired Adeiny Hechavarria before a single by Dickerson. The left-hander then walked Lucas Duda and was lifted for Chris Devenski.
A wild pitch by Devenski allowed both runners to advance before Evan Longoria reached on an error by third baseman Alex Bregman, tying it at 3. Logan Morrison struck out before Souza's double to left field put the Rays up 5-3.
"We didn't get through that inning very well," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "It was pretty symbolic to how things are going for us. Just a little bit off on a couple of things."
Houston got consecutive singles from Jose Altuve and Bregman off Sergio Romo with two outs in the seventh, and the pair executed a double steal to put both runners in scoring position. But then Dickerson sprinted to catch a line drive hit by Yuli Gurriel on the run in left field, leaving the Astros emptyhanded.
"I'd give it five stars," Souza said.
The Rays got another good outing from their bullpen, with Brad Boxberger (3-3), Romo, Tommy Hunter and Alex Colome combining for five scoreless innings after Blake Snell left with two on and none out in the fifth. Colome pitched a perfect ninth to convert a save for the third straight day and give him 33 this season.
Souza, who missed the previous two games with a bruised left foot, hit his 23rd home run to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the sixth.
"I'm thankful that I was as productive as I was. I couldn't have told you that was going to happen," he said. "When I found out it wasn't broken, that was a good sign that I was going to try to push through it."
Snell allowed seven hits and three runs in four-plus innings, extending his winless streak to 15 starts.
McHugh gave up five hits and two runs -- one earned -- in six innings during his third start this season after spending most of the year on the disabled list.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI double off the wall by Gurriel.
Brad Miller walked to start the second before Wilson Ramos reached on catcher's interference. Dickerson's two-out single scored Miller to tie it at 1.
Altuve's solo homer into the bullpen in right-center with one out in the third put Houston's on top 2-1.
Snell walked Jake Marisnick with nobody out in the fifth before a single by Altuve. Bregman's RBI single came next to push the lead to 3-1 and chase Snell.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros OF George Springer continues to increase his activity as he recovers from a left quadriceps strain, but there is still no timetable for his return.
DICKERSON'S CATCH
The Rays were raving about Dickerson's grab after the game and Cash noted it was an indication of how much progress the outfielder has made on defense this season.
"This is not an easy ballpark to play left field in," Cash said. "Off the bat I thought double off the wall, and just an amazing play."
TOUGH DEBUT
Liriano, who pitched in relief for the first time all season, was disappointed he didn't make a better impression.
"I was trying to do a little too much," he said. "That's not the first game you want to have. Try and keep my head up and come ready to play tomorrow."
UP NEXT
Rays: Jake Faria (5-1, 2.93 ERA) will start when the team opens a three-game interleague series against the Brewers. Faria allowed three hits and three runs while walking a career-high five in a career-low four innings last time out, but did not get a decision as Tampa Bay beat the Yankees 5-3.
Astros: Brad Peacock (9-1, 2.62) pitches Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Toronto.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
8:10PM,EDT,August 3,2017
Minute Maid Park, Houston,Texas
Minute Maid Park, Houston,Texas
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Tampa Bay - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Collin McHugh pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Dickerson singled to shallow left. | 0 | 0 |
| Duda flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria fouled out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Morrison walked, Dickerson to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Souza Jr. struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| Altuve struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Bregman doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Bregman stole third. | 0 | 0 |
| Gurriel doubled to deep left center, Bregman scored. | 0 | 1 |
| Gattis struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| González struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Collin McHugh pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Miller walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Ramos reached first base on catcher's interference, Miller to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Smith fouled out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Hechavarria struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Dickerson singled to right, Miller scored, Ramos to second; Ramos to third, Dickerson to second on throwing error by right fielder Fisher. | 1 | 1 |
| Duda flied out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| Fisher struck out looking. | 1 | 1 |
| White grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 1 |
| Reed grounded out to first. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Collin McHugh pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Longoria popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 1 |
| Morrison doubled to deep left center. | 1 | 1 |
| Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Miller lined out to right. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| Marisnick struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Altuve homered to right center (385 feet). | 1 | 2 |
| Bregman grounded out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| Gurriel singled to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Gattis grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Gurriel out at second. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Collin McHugh pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Ramos lined out to center. | 1 | 2 |
| Smith struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Hechavarria grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| González grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 2 |
| Fisher singled to left center. | 1 | 2 |
| White flied out to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Reed grounded out to first. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Collin McHugh pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Dickerson grounded out to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Duda struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Longoria hit a ground rule double to deep right. | 1 | 2 |
| Morrison fouled out to third. | 1 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Blake Snell pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| Marisnick walked. | 1 | 2 |
| Altuve singled to left, Marisnick to second. | 1 | 2 |
| Bregman singled to left, Marisnick scored, Altuve to second. | 1 | 3 |
| Boxberger relieved Snell. | 1 | 3 |
| Gurriel flied out to center. | 1 | 3 |
| Gattis grounded into double play, third to second to first, Bregman out at second. | 1 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Collin McHugh pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Souza Jr. homered to left (350 feet). | 2 | 3 |
| Miller flied out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Ramos struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Smith fouled out to third. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Brad Boxberger pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| González struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Fisher struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| White struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Francisco Liriano pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Liriano relieved McHugh. | 2 | 3 |
| Hechavarria flied out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| Dickerson singled to center. | 2 | 3 |
| Duda walked, Dickerson to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Devenski relieved Liriano. | 2 | 3 |
| Dickerson to third, Duda to second on wild pitch by Devenski. | 2 | 3 |
| Longoria safe at first on error by shortstop Bregman, Dickerson scored, Duda to third. | 3 | 3 |
| Morrison struck out swinging. | 3 | 3 |
| Souza Jr. doubled to left, Duda and Longoria scored. | 5 | 3 |
| Miller popped out to second. | 5 | 3 |
| 3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Sergio Romo pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| Romo relieved Boxberger. | 5 | 3 |
| Reed struck out looking. | 5 | 3 |
| Marisnick grounded out to third. | 5 | 3 |
| Altuve singled to center. | 5 | 3 |
| Bregman singled to right, Altuve to second. | 5 | 3 |
| Altuve stole third, Bregman stole second. | 5 | 3 |
| Gurriel lined out to left. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Francis Martes pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Martes relieved Devenski. | 5 | 3 |
| Ramos grounded out to third. | 5 | 3 |
| Smith doubled to left center. | 5 | 3 |
| Hechavarria lined out to right, Smith to third. | 5 | 3 |
| Dickerson flied out to right. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tommy Hunter pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| Hunter relieved Romo. | 5 | 3 |
| Gattis grounded out to shortstop. | 5 | 3 |
| González struck out swinging. | 5 | 3 |
| Fisher flied out to center. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Francis Martes pitching for Houston | TB | HOU |
| Duda popped out to shortstop. | 5 | 3 |
| Longoria walked. | 5 | 3 |
| Morrison struck out looking. | 5 | 3 |
| Souza Jr. walked, Longoria to second. | 5 | 3 |
| Bourjos ran for Souza Jr.. | 5 | 3 |
| Miller lined out to center. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Houston - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Alex Colome pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | HOU |
| Bourjos in center field. | 5 | 3 |
| Smith in right field. | 5 | 3 |
| Colomé relieved Hunter. | 5 | 3 |
| Reddick hit for White. | 5 | 3 |
| Reddick grounded out to pitcher. | 5 | 3 |
| Reed grounded out to first. | 5 | 3 |
| Beltrán hit for Marisnick. | 5 | 3 |
| Beltrán grounded out to second. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay Rays | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Dickerson LF | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .304 | .349 | .532 |
| Duda 1B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .300 | .464 | .800 |
| Longoria 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 28 | .273 | .325 | .464 |
| Morrison DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 21 | .248 | .363 | .541 |
| Souza Jr. RF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 27 | .272 | .374 | .519 |
Bourjos PR-CF
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .236 | .281 | .425 |
| Miller 2B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | .197 | .340 | .317 |
| Ramos C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .185 | .221 | .333 |
| Smith CF-RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .287 | .355 | .387 |
| Hechavarria SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .240 | .259 | .269 |
| Totals | 36 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 162 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Morrison (17, McHugh); Longoria (28, McHugh); Souza Jr. (18, Devenski); Smith (6, Martes) HR: Souza Jr. (23, 6th inning off McHugh 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Dickerson (50), Souza Jr. 3 (68), Longoria (66) 2-out RBI: Dickerson, Souza Jr. 2 Rays RISP: 2-15 (Miller 0-3, Hechavarria 0-2, Dickerson 1-2, Souza Jr. 1-3, Longoria 0-1, Smith 0-1, Morrison 0-2, Duda 0-1) Team LOB: 10 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Longoria-Miller-Duda). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX |
| Attendance | 23,404 (55.6% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:23 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - James Hoye, First Base - Ramon DeJesus, Second Base - Jeff Kellogg, Third Base - Tim Timmons |
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