Rays pitch well, hit poorly and lose in extra innings to Astros

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wednesday’s game looked like a lot of other recent Rays performances — including at the end as they trudged back to the clubhouse in defeat.

The Rays pitchers were very good again, as sharp starter Zack Littell and five relievers combined to limit the Astros to one hit into the 10th inning and two total.

And the Rays batters were very quiet again, managing just two singles for the night.

The result was a 2-1, 10-inning loss.

The Astros went ahead in the 10th off lefty Garrett Cleavinger. He got two quick outs, with Pedro Leon — the runner placed at second to start the inning — moving to third on a fly out to center. But Cleavinger walked Jake Meyers on four pitches, then allowed a run-scoring single to Mauricio Dubon.

The loss completed a sweep by the Astros, and was the Rays’ seventh defeat in their last nine games and ninth in 13. They dropped to 59-61 overall and stayed at least 5 1/2 games back of the third American League wild-card spot, pending later results.

Down 1-0, and having wasted a prime opportunity to score in the seventh, the Rays broke through in the eighth off reliever Bryan Abreu to get the tying run.

Taylor Walls drew a leadoff walk, and moved to second as he was running on the pitch when Jose Siri grounded out. Walls stole third, and then got a good break for home when Yandy Diaz grounded to second and beat Jose Altuve’s throw, the call withstanding a replay challenge.

The Rays tried for more, but pinch-runner Jose Caballero, who leads the AL with 32 steals, was first called safe but then out on a crew-chief review as he tried to swipe second. Brandon Lowe then flied out to center.

Littell got the Rays off to a great start, retiring the first 11 Astros and holding them hitless until Jeremy Pena led off the fifth with a home run.

He retired the next two, walked Dubon — the No. 8 hitter — then struck out Chad McCormick to end the inning on his 68th pitch of the night.

But somewhat oddly, that was it for him. Edwin Uceta started warming up as the Rays batted in the bottom of the fifth, and he took over for Littell.

After a bit of a rough stretch, Littell was sharp in his three previous outings leading up to Wednesday, allowing zero, one and three runs.

He was even better against the Astros, allowing just the one hit and two walks, striking out three, and throwing 44 of his 68 pitches for strikes.

Offense has been a problem for the Rays, who have scored two or fewer runs in eight of their last 12 games, Since the All-Star break, they’re averaging 3.8 runs per game, second-lowest in the majors behind the White Sox’s 2.9.

Walls singled with one out in the third, but Siri struck out and, after Walls stole second, Diaz popped out. Diaz singled with two outs in the sixth, but Lowe’s 106.5-mph line drive was knocked down and deflected by Astros starter Ronel Blanco and turned into an out when Pena grabbed it and made a strong throw.

They had a prime chance in the seventh when Kaleb Ort replaced Blanco and walked Josh Lowe and Junior Caminero with one out. Tayler Scott took over and, after both runners moved up with steals, struck out Ben Rortvedt and got Johnny DeLuca to ground out.