Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Dexter Fowler hit the first pitch of the game on Sunday for a home run.
But Houston Astros' offense struggled after that, striking out 13 times in a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Everyone in the Houston lineup except George Springer struck out at least once, and it was the fifth straight game in which the Astros struck out at least 11 times.
"(We're) just missing way too many hittable pitches," manager Bo Porter said. "It's not like we're not getting good pitches to hit. We're just not putting our best swings on 'em right now."
Yunel Escobar drove in two runs during a three-run sixth inning for the Rays, who won three out of four games in the series.
Escobar hit a two-run single and Sean Rodriguez had an RBI grounder off Dallas Keuchel (8-5) to give the Rays a 4-2 lead in the sixth.
Escobar's hit barely got past first baseman Jesus Guzman and Rodriguez barely beat out a double play to keep the inning alive.
"This game can be pretty ruthless sometimes," said Keuchel, who gave up nine hits in his third complete game of the season. "I was about a centimeter away from getting a double play there with Escobar; Guzy couldn't quite get there (on Escobar's hit) and that was the difference.
"I felt really good, but they were just beating it in the ground and that's all I can ask for."
Fowler put the Astros up 1-0 when he hit the first pitch from Erik Bedard into the left-field seats, his ninth career leadoff homer and third this season.
Bedard, who was with Houston last season, gave up two runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, striking out eight.
Juan Carlos Oviedo (3-2) got two outs in the sixth for the win. Joel Peralta pitched the ninth for his first save.
Houston took a 2-1 lead in the third on Jose Altuve's single. Jonathan Villar opened the inning with a double, was awarded a steal of third after a replay challenge resulted in an out call being overturned and scored on the hit by Altuve.
But the Astros never got a hit after the sixth, and five of their last 10 batters struck out.
"A lot of times we're getting good pitches early in the count, and we're fouling them off," Porter said. "Then you put yourself in the position of hitting the pitcher's pitch late in the count."
The Astros struck out 48 times in the series and lead the majors with 668 for the season. Rays pitchers lead the majors with 669 strikeouts.
Desmond Jennings was caught attempting to steal home with Evan Longoria batting to end the Rays third, a call that was confirmed by a replay review.
NOTES: SS Carlos Correa, taken first overall in the 2012 draft by the Astros, left Saturday's game with Class A Lancaster with a right ankle injury, which occurred while sliding. He will go on the disabled list. "Carlos was examined last night at a local hospital in California," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. "He will travel to Houston early this week to be evaluated further by the Astros medical staff before determining next steps." ... The Astros are off Monday. ... Houston starts a three-game series Tuesday against Atlanta with RHP Scott Feldman (3-4) and Braves RHP Aaron Harang (5-6) the scheduled starters. ... Three-year old Ireland Nugent, who has been fitted with leg prosthetics after a lawnmower accident, threw the ceremonial first pitch.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
