HOUSTON _ The starting pitcher walked seven over seven otherwise solid innings Tuesday. That seemed weird enough for the Rays. But then the next pitcher they brought in was the one who started Monday's game. Even more bizarre.
And then there was this, the Rays actually winning a one-run game, and by defeating the red-hot defending champ Astros, who had won 12 straight, and ace Justin Verlander, 2-1.
Obviously, they'll take it.
Blake Snell did most of the heavy lifting, outlasting Verlander in a matchup he was eagerly excited about, walking the seven (one intentional) but allowing only the one run and striking out six in throwing 102 pitches.
Then Ryne Stanek, who retired all five Astros he faced as Monday's opener and looked as sharp as manager Kevin Cash ever saw him, zipped through the eighth. Lefty Jose Alvarado came on to start the ninth, allowing a single and getting one out. Then Cash turned to Sergio Romo, who blew the save Monday. This time he did the job, striking out Max Stassi, allowing an infield single to Tyler White and then getting Jake Marisnick to pop out.
The Rays took the lead against Verlander in the second when C.J. Cron, hitless in his last 23 at-bats, delivered his career-high matching 16th home run. The Astros tied it in the third when Snell had one of several spots of trouble, with two singles around a wild pitch and a fielder's choice ground out.
Verlander didn't finish the seventh, striking out 10 while throwing 122 pitches. The Rays (34-39) went back ahead in the eighth. Matt Duffy, who continues to impress, led off with a double, moved to third on a proper rightside grounder by rookie Jake Bauers and scored when Wilson Ramos singled over the drawn-in infield.
The Rays had lost a majors-most 19 one-run games, but now they have won 11.
Snell didn't get off to a good start, with an infield single and two walks in the first, but got off unpunished when Carlos Gomez threw home to nail George Springer as he tried to tag on a shallow fly.
Snell allowed a run in the third on a couple of singles around a wild pitch, though Gomez helped out again by throwing out Alex Bregman trying to get to second. And he made a mess again in the sixth by walking the first two, but got a double play grounder and then got out of it.
