OCTOBER 2, 2022•CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Rays lose game to Astros, chance to play first round at homeHOUSTON — The Rays’ long road to the postseason won’t bring them home for the opening-round Wild Card Series that starts Friday.
Pena homers, drives in 3 to lead Astros over Rays 3-1
Jeremy Pena hit an early two-run homer and drove in an insurance run late, lifting the Houston Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay RaysOCTOBER 2, 2022•ASSOCIATED PRESS
Easton McGee - Three relief innings in debutMcGee allowed one unearned run on four hits and no walks while striking out one over three innings in Sunday's 3-1 loss against Houston.
ImpactIn his major league debut, McGee entered the game in the sixth inning with the Rays down 2-1 and pitched well. He surrendered just one unearned run after a Jonathan Aranda throwing error and a Jeremy Pena base hit in the seventh inning. McGee may get one or two more looks before the end of the regular season, but it is unclear whether he will make it onto the playoff roster.
OCTOBER 2, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Rafael Montero - Works out of trouble to earn saveMontero picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning against the Rays on Sunday. He allowed one hit and two walks while striking out one.
ImpactAfter getting the first batter to fly out to start the ninth inning, Montero allowed three of the next four batters to reach base and enable the go-ahead run to step up to the plate with two outs. All ended well, however, as he got Taylor Walls to ground out to second base to end the game and record his 14th save of the season. Over his last 10 appearances dating back to Sept. 9, Montero has allowed two earned runs over 10 innings with two saves and four holds.
OCTOBER 2, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Jeremy Peña - Belts 21st long ballPena went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and an RBI single in Sunday's win over the Rays.
ImpactPena led the offense Sunday, accounting for all three of Houston's runs, and extending his hitting streak to five games in the process. His home run in the first inning was his 21st of the season and his second in that five-game stretch. He is slashing .252/.288/.421 through 134 games this season.
OCTOBER 2, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Corey Kluber - One mistake SundayKluber (10-10) took the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over five innings against the Astros. He struck out four.
ImpactJose Altuve led off the game against Kluber with a bunt single, and Jeremy Pena followed with a two-run homer on a first-pitch cutter. Kluber held the Astros scoreless through five innings after that point, but the damage was enough to saddle him with his 10th loss on the season. 2022 was much of a bounceback campaign for the veteran as his 164 innings pitched were the most he's thrown since logging five consecutive seasons of 200 or more innings from 2014 to 2018. He finishes with a 4.34 ERA on the season.
OCTOBER 2, 2022•ROTOWIRE
Luis Garcia - Ends regular season on high noteGarcia (15-8) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over six innings with four strikeouts in a 3-1 win over the Rays.
ImpactIn what was likely his last appearance of the regular season, Garcia allowed one run over six innings, marking the first time he has thrown consecutive quality starts since June 4. The only damage came via a leadoff double followed by an RBI single in the top of the second inning, as he held the Rays to just two other baserunners on the afternoon. After a breakout campaign in 2021 when he recorded 11 wins with a 3.48 ERA over 155.1 innings, the 25-year-old has followed it up with 15 wins and a 3.72 ERA over 157.1 innings in 2022.
OCTOBER 2, 2022•ROTOWIRE
