The Tampa Bay Rays saw their modest winning streak come to a close at the hands of the reeling Houston Astros. The Astros got strong pitching from Roy Oswalt and won 4-3 on Friday night in Tampa Bay. The Rays fell to 43-30 on the year.
Matt Garza started on the hill for the Rays and helped keep them close but was charged with his fourth loss of the season. He lasted six innings and gave up all four Astro runs (three earned) while striking out eight and walking only two. He was pulled after throwing 113 pitches. Gary Glover threw 2.2 innings of shut out relief to keep the Rays in the game.
The Rays allowed two runs in the first but got one back on an Eric Hinske RBI single in the bottom of the first. Hinske had another RBI single in the 8th inning to bring the Rays to within 4-2. In the ninth inning, Dioner Navarro hit a solo homer off of close Jose Valverde but it was all they would get as they fell just a run short. Carl Crawford and Eric Hinske each had two hits for Tampa.
This series will continue tonight as these two teams meet in the middle game of their three game series. Edwin Jackson will take the mound for the Rays as he searches for his fifth win of the season. Game time is 6:10pm.
