Tuesday, 4 a.m.
As they enter their post-season, perhaps the worry for the Tampa Bay Rays isn't starting pitching, after all.
Perhaps it's finishing.
The Rays, who seem to value a designated closer less than most teams, let a game get away in a 4-3 loss to Houston Monday night. The Rays still need to win one more game to clinch home-field advantage throughout the post-season.
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Both Josh Fleming and J.T. Chargois failed in the bottom of the ninth inning. Fleming gave up two infield singles, which brought on Chargois. After an intentional walk, Chargois walked two batters in a row for the loss.
“I thought Fleming threw the ball really really well," said Rays' manager Kevin Cash. "That’s what he does. He comes in and pounds it on the ground. Just unfortunate for Flem. With J.T. we've we’ve got to get ahead of hitters in that situation. He fell behind both of them. McCormick’s at-bat was really impressive. He just couldn’t quite make the pitch."
Said Chargois: "I felt good. I thought that I had a lot of quality pitches. Yeah, it's frustrating. I thought I threw a lot of strikes."
The Rays got five no-hit innings from Michael Wacha. The Rays scored two runs in the first, but after the second inning until the ninth, the Rays didn't have a hit.
Jose Altuve tied the game at 2-2 with a home run, but Randy Arozarena put the Rays ahead with a ninth-inning homer.
The Rays' got a walk from shortstop Wander Franco, who drew within one of Frank Robinson's record of 43 games in a row for a player 20 years and younger. Franco has a chance to tie his record tonight.
The Rays play the Astros again tonight at 8:10 p.m. at Minute Maid Park. Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays against Houston's Luis Garcia.
chad om 1- pitches.
Castro seven pitch walk