Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall Short, 2-1

It was a tough night for the Tampa Bay’s hitters. The Astros rookie Jarred Cosart, making his major league debut, not only no-hit the Rays into the seventh inning, but he also shut them out into the ninth. And even when the Rays put base runners on, he quickly negated the threat, inducing three double plays (Editors note: Jose Veras, the Astros closer, would cull the fourth double play of the night in the ninth).

The New What Next: Those Astros Once Again, A Series Preview of Sorts

The Rays welcome the Houston Astros into the Trop Friday, a day after they eked out a 4-3 win, completing a four game sweep of the Twins. Tampa Bay has now taken its fifth consecutive series, thanks to an outstanding 7-1/3 inning outing by Matt Moore. The Rays’ lefty snagged his 13th win of the year …

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Hmph…Rays Lose 4-1

Not much can be said about last night’s 4-1 loss to the Astros… At least nothing that hasn’t already been said. Both Roberto Hernandez and Bud Norris were very good, though Norris was better. The Astros ace has been very good at home this season (2.27 ERA, 3 HR, 71-1/3 IP), and he did what ace’s are want to do: shut down the opposing offense.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Price, Rays Blank Astros For the Second Consecutive Day

Welcome back David Price, how’s about you stick around for a while?! The Tampa Bay Rays blanked Houston for the second consecutive day, as David Price regained his dominant Cy Young Award winning form in an 8-0 shutout of the lowly Astros. The Rays posted back-to-back shutouts for the second time this season, and the seventh time in club history, while the offense put crooked numbers on the board for the second consecutive day.

Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Throttle Astros, 12-0

The Rays absolutely throttled the Astros Monday night in a 12-0 routing at Minute Maid Park. I know what you’re saying, “But it was against the Astros, the second worst team in baseball.” I’d remind you that the Astros have played .500 ball over the last 40 games or so, while their starting rotation has the second lowest ERA in the American League during that stretch. The Rays’ no questions asked 12-0 win came courtesy of strong pitching and an offensive outburst from the seven-eight-nine trio of hitters, as Tampa Bay plated more two-out runs in one game than they had in the series prior. It’s time for another episode of The Good, The Bad, and The Argyle: A Bulleted Game Summary.