Rays Beat Up Verlander To Get Back To .500

ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- Wilson Ramos had a pair of hits and drove in four runs, as the Tampa Bay rays jumped on Justin verlander for five runs in the first two innings, holding on to defeat the Houston Astros 5-2 Saturday at Tropicana Field.

Verlander, who was touched up for four runs in his last start against Toronto, struggled in each of the first two frames, loading the bases in each inning.  In the first he hit Kevin Kiermaier with a pitch, then gave up singles to Matt Duffy and Jake Bauers before Ramos drovea 3-1 pitch off the wall in left to make it a 2-0 game.

Joey Wendle added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 one batter later.

Tampa Bay rallied against Verlander with two out in the second, as Kiermaier singled to right, Duffy reached on an infield hit and Bauers walked to load the bases.  Ramos then singled up the middle to bring in Kiermaier and Duffy again for a 5-0 lead.

Ryne Stanek worked a scoreless first inning before turning things over to Vidal Nuno, who continued the scoreless streak into the sixth inning, when George Springer reached on a fielding error by Adeiny Hechavarria, snapping the Rays franchise record streak of 94 games and 319 chances without an error.  

Alex Bregman then lifted a Nuno (2-0) offering into the left field seats for his 16th home run of the year.

Jose Alvarado worked out of the sixth, and turned around to work a scoreless seventh, with Chaz Roe putting up a perfect eighth and Sergio Romo locking down the ninth for his seventh save.

SUNDAY'S MATCHUP

Tampa Bay Rays (41-41) vs. Houston Astros (55-30), 1:10 p.m. first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 11:00 a.m. with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.

Rays starter - LHP Blake Snell (10-4, 2.34 ERA)

Astros starter - RHP Charlie Morton (10-1, 2.54 ERA)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Monday - Rays at Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m. first pitch

Tuesday - Rays at Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m. first pitch

Wednesday - Rays at Miami Marlins, 1:10 p.m. first pitch


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