This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Brandon Lowe produced a run-scoring double in the top of the third inning, and five pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Tampa Bay Rays claimed the rubber match of a three-game series against the Houston Astros with a 1-0 victory on Sunday.
After Dylan Carlson delivered a leadoff double to left field in the third, Lowe followed with his RBI double to right to score Carlson and snap the scoreless deadlock. Both extra-base hits came against rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-10), who pitched brilliantly for Houston.
Arrighetti allowed one run on five hits and two walks, with a career-best 12 strikeouts. It marked the 10th consecutive game Astros pitching recorded at least 10 strikeouts, a franchise record. Houston has 129 strikeouts over 90 innings during that span, yet dropped to 5-5 over that 10-game stretch.
Houston finished 4-5 on its nine-game homestand.
Arrighetti recorded two strikeouts in each of his first four innings. He struck out the side in the fifth while allowing a two-out single to Yandy Diaz. After surrendering a leadoff single to Curtis Mead in the sixth, Arrighetti rallied with a strikeout of Josh Lowe before inducing Jose Siri to ground into an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play.
Arrighetti threw 100 pitches — 67 for strikes. Despite his exceptional effort, the Astros lost their sixth consecutive game with Arrighetti on the mound.
Houston squandered its best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first when the Astros loaded the bases against Rays opener Hunter Bigge, who departed after striking out Jeremy Pena for the second out of that frame. Left-hander Tyler Alexander (5-3) entered, posted a three-pitch strikeout of Jon Singleton, and allowed just three baserunners while logging 4 1/3 innings.
After Rays pitching retired 20 of the final 21 batters faced in a 6-1 victory over Houston on Saturday, right-handers Edwin Uceta, Manuel Rodriguez and Pete Fairbanks combined to work four perfect innings of relief in the series finale, totaling six strikeouts.
Fairbanks earned his 21st save by concluding the ninth with strikeouts of Pena and Singleton.
–Field Level Media
