The Tampa Bay Rays tightened their grip on the top of the American League with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night, pushing their winning streak to nine games.
Junior Caminero provided the decisive blow, launching a solo homer in the seventh inning that broke a 1-1 tie and sent the crowd at Tropicana Field into celebration.
Starter Spencer Arrighetti turned in a strong outing for Houston, limiting the Rays to just two hits over six innings while striking out ten batters and inducing a 34% chase rate.
Bullpen Trouble for Houston
The Astros' relief corps unraveled in the seventh, as Nick Fortes' two-out single set the stage for Caminero's homer. A subsequent walk and a wild pitch opened the door for the go-ahead run.
Yordan Alvarez, who entered the game with his 27th home run of the season, managed only a single shot to left, underscoring the narrow margin between triumph and defeat.
With the loss, Houston fell to 43-47, a record that reflects a season of inconsistency despite flashes of brilliance from players such as Spencer Arrighetti, Yordan Alvarez, and the emerging talents listed among the roster.
The Rays, now perched atop the AL, will look to carry their momentum into the next series, while the Astros aim to regroup and address the late-game lapses that have cost them dearly.