Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays Match Player Stats On Mar 31, 2019

Yonny Chirinos worked seven strong innings, and the Tampa Bay Rays claimed their four-game series against the Houston Astros with a 3-1 victory on Sunday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Chirinos, making just his eighth career start after appearing in 18 games as a rookie in 2018, dominated the Astros while surrendering two hits and recording six strikeouts. Chirinos did not walk a batter.

Chirinos (1-0) retired the first eight batters he faced before surrendering a game-tying solo home run to Astros center fielder Jake Marisnick with two outs in the third inning. He recovered and retired the next eight batters before Marisnick singled with one out in the sixth. Chirinos escaped that inning unscathed by completing a double play with a strikeout of George Springer before Marisnick was caught attempting to swipe second base.

Chirinos retired Houston in order in the seventh. He threw 88 pitches, 60 for strikes, to follow strong starts from fellow Rays right-handers Charlie Morton and Tyler Glasnow.

Astros left-hander Wade Miley (0-1) suffered the loss in his Houston debut. He was undone by left-handed designated hitter Austin Meadows, who recorded a two-out base hit off Miley that gave the Rays a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. With two outs in the third inning, Meadows belted a 407-foot, two-run blast off Miley that snapped a 1-1 tie. The Rays scored 8 of 11 runs during the series with two outs.

Meadows, who drove home Avisail Garcia with his second home run on the season, finished 2-for-4. He homered against Astros right-hander Justin Verlander in the series opener on Thursday, a 5-1 Rays loss. Meadows was part of the trade that landed Glasnow from Pittsburgh at the 2018 non-waiver deadline.

Miley allowed three extra-base hits against left-handed batters last season, all doubles. He worked six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Like Chirinos, Miley did not issue a walk.

Diego Castillo recorded his first save for the Rays, who swept the final three games of the four-game set.

--Field Level Media