Rays 1, Astros 15
Record: 76-57
Attendance: 28,454. Minute Maid Park
The Rays may be pardoned if panic has set in after being completely dominated in a showdown game against a premier team in MLB, one that stands a very good chance of winning it all this season. They couldn't measure up in any facet of the game.
It was so bad that infielder Mike Brosseau was called on to pitch two innings--and had better pitching stats than any of the three other real pitchers used by manager Kevin Cash. Loser Charlie Morton (13-6) lasted four innings giving up seven hits, one homer, two walks, and six earned runs; Andrew Kittredge gave up three runs in his inning, and Chaz Roe gave up five in his. Brosseau only gave up one run in his two innings, though by then Astro hitters may have let up a little in their at-bats.
In all it was a season-ending embarrassment. The mercy rule should have been called after the sixth, for by then the Astros had scored two, four, three, and five runs in four consecutive innings. The Rays don't have an answer for Astro hitting or pitching. They should consider forfeiting the next two games and heading back to Tampa to try their luck against the Cleveland Indians.
For those keeping track, after Tuesday's game, the Rays added eight more scoreless innings to their recent struggles at the plate. They've only managed to score in five of their last 36 innings.
The human interest story was Charlie Morton's return to Minute Maid Park where he had helped the team to the World Series and remains beloved. There was gushing sentiment spilling out everywhere in pre-game ceremonies, a feel-good story that will be remembered and not soon outdone. Then the game started and the Astros beat the crap out of their old pal.
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