HOUSTON _ The Rays brought up several of their top prospects so they can get as much experience as possible.
And Monday that included seeing how the relentless defending champion Astros worked their way back from an early four-run deficit to score a 5-4 walk-off victory and extend their winning streak to a franchise-tying 12.
The Rays took a 4-3 lead to the ninth when Sergio Romo walked Marwin Gonzalez on four pitches then allowed a single to Max Stassi. A bunt moved the runners up, and an interference call on catcher Wilson Ramos loaded the bases for Alex Bregman, who laced a double to left center scoring the tying and winning runs.
The Astros rolled into the game after completing a 10-0 road trip and winners of 11 straight, and with one of their multiple aces, starting pitcher Gerrit Cole, on the mound.
So naturally the Rays (33-39) raced off to a 4-0 lead.
They got two in the first, when rookie Jake Bauers walked and Wilson Ramos hit an opposite-field homer, his ninth. And they got two more in the third when Cole walked the bases loaded and Joey Wendle delivered a two-run single.
But they knew it wouldn't be easy against the relentless defending champs.
The Astros got two back in the fourth off right-hander Matt Andriese, as Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel rapped three straight hits and Josh Reddick added a sac fly. They got another in the sixth, when Altuve laced a ball into the left-field corner and ended up on third on Johnny Field's misplay, then scored when manager Kevin Cash brought in lefty Jose Alvarado to face righty-swinging Gurriel and he singled.
The game had the look and strategies of a postseason game.
The Rays opened Monday's game with a twist.
They used right-hander Ryne Stanek as planned, but after he retired the five right-handers at the top of the Houston order, they brought in left-hander Jonny Venters to face the three lefties and switch-hitter at the bottom, then turned to RHP Andriese for length.
"It's a tough one no doubt," said Cash, as the Rays used seven pitchers. "We sold out to try to win a ballgame.
"This is going to be a frustrating one."
In reiterating before the game that they planned to stick with the plan of using openers as they currently have only two traditional starters in Blake Snell and Nathan Eovaldi, Cash also indicated they are going to continue to experiment with the process.
"There's a lot of ways this could go," he said. "We could shorten up the middle guy to where we ask him to get one time through (the order). We'll continue to see how this evolves."
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the Rays' unorthodox plans didn't alter their strategy.
