ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ Friday night's game against the Astros wasn't supposed to be a "bullpen" day for the Rays, but it turned out that way. Wilmer Font, pitching in his first game as a bona fide starter, was supposed to throw over 100 pitches and last perhaps seven or eight innings.
But in the sixth inning, Font was forced to leave the game with no outs and runner on first due to a strained right lat muscle. He had given up only one hit, but this game was going to once again be decided by the bullpen.
And once again, the bullpen came through.
Diego Castillo relieved Font. He gave up a two-run homer to the first batter he faced, Alex Bregman. But after that Castillo, Chaz Roe, Sergio Romo and Jose Alvarado held the Astros scoreless in a 3-2 win in front of 15,797 at Tropicana Field. The Rays (40-41) are now 15-20 in one run games. Houston (55-29) snapped an 11-game road win streak.
The Rays ended a streak of 19 scoreless innings in the fourth, thanks to two straight singles and two Astros miscues. Daniel Robertson led off with his second single of the night. Joey Wendle then singled through shortstop on a hit-and-run that put runners on the corners.
Adeiny Hechavarria followed with a deep fly ball to center field. Jake Marisnick seemed to have it tracked, but he dropped the ball at the wall, which allowed Robertson to score.
Two outs later, Kevin Kiermaier hit a grounder to shortstop that Marwin Gonzalez had to charge. His rushed throw bounced in the dirt and A.J. Reed bobbled the throw. The error allowed Wendle and Mallex Smith to score and make it 3-0.
Font cruised through the first five innings and allowed only a two out double to Max Stassi. Then came the sixth. He allowed a leadoff walk to Marisnick and had a 3-1 count on Bregman when he left the game with a strained right lat muscle. He threw 76 pitches.
Castillo relieved and gave up the two-run homer to Bregman that cut the lead to 3-2. He then got the next three batters to get out of the inning.
Chaz Roe pitched a scoreless eighth. Romo got two outs in the ninth and Alvarado got Gonzalez to ground into a fielder's choice to end the game.
