HOUSTON — As Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash watched Tim Beckham hit ball after ball into the short porch in left field during batting practice before Monday night’s game, he told the second baseman he should try to hit some line drives.
Beckham didn’t take his manager’s advice, launching a three-run homer to the same spot in the first inning to help the Rays cruise to a 9-2 victory over the Houston Astros.
“He can put on quite a show in batting practice,” Cash said. “With more consistent playing time and better timing, it might show up a little bit more. But for the amount of at-bats and the amount of time he gets to play he does a really nice job with the power.”
The Rays were up 1-0 when Beckham connected on his first home run since May 22 to give them a big early lead.
Asdrubal Cabrera added three RBIs for the Rays, who got back on track after being swept by the Rangers in a three-game series this weekend.
“It’s very beneficial for us, took three tough losses in Arlington and just needed a big win tonight,” Beckham said. “When I’m in there I just want to be productive and just want to produce any way I can and it was a big win for us tonight.”
Erasmo Ramirez (10-4) yielded six hits and two runs in 5 2-3 innings for his second straight win.
Houston starter Scott Kazmir (6-8) tied season highs by allowing nine hits and six runs in 5 1-3 innings, falling to 0-3 this month after going 2-0 with a 0.26 ERA in July. He’s won just one of his five starts since a trade from Oakland.
“I really don’t feel like (I’m) off,” Kazmir said. “I think it’s just a matter of being completely sharp. I feel great. My fastball feels like it’s where it needs to be. It’s just a matter of executing. That’s something when it comes to crucial times I didn’t do it.”
Tampa Bay’s 15 hits tied the most Houston has allowed this season.
Evan Gattis hit a solo homer in the fourth inning for the AL West-leading Astros, who had trouble stringing hits together and stranded nine runners.
Cabrera’s RBI single made it 1-0 in the first before Beckham’s shot.
Gattis’ 18th homer got Houston within 4-2.
Brandon Guyer and Desmond Jennings hit consecutive singles to start the fifth inning and a walk by Forsythe loaded the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by Cabrera drove home a run to make it 5-2.
Kazmir was replaced by Josh Fields with runners on first and second with one out in the fifth inning. He was greeted with a pinch-hit RBI single by John Jaso to leave the Rays up 6-2.
Via AP