After taking the Tampa Bay Rays to task in the first two games of the ALDS, the Houston Astros pitching staff couldn’t get the sweep on Monday after a phenomenal performance by the Rays offense in a 10-3 loss.
How It Happened:
Jose Altuve got the Astros on the board early when he lifted one out to deep center field. That lead didn’t exactly last that long though when Kevin Kiermaier drilled a three-run bomb out to center field in the bottom of the second to give Tampa Bay Rays a 3-1 lead. Ji-Man Choi followed that up in the third with a solo shot to right field, but the wheels really started to come off in the fourth with four runs scoring for the Rays with Brandon Lowe’s solo shot being the real highlight.
Yuli Gurriel cut into the lead in the sixth with a two-run single, but a Willy Adames solo home run in the bottom frame put any hopes of a rally to bed.
Big Number: 12
The Rays offense was eating on an Astros pitching staff that allowed a whopping 12 hits, four of which were home runs. Not exactly how you want to play with a series sweep on the line.
Player of the Game: Charlie Morton
The Chuck Wagon only played five innings against the Astros, but he made the most of his time. Morton, a former Astro, struck out nine and only allowed three hits on Monday afternoon.
Next Up: Tuesday Game Four vs Tampa Bay