Hunter Brown pitches Astros past Rays

Hunter Brown allowed one hit and recorded his fifth scoreless start of the season, and the Houston Astros earned a split of their four-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays with a 1-0 victory on Sunday.

The Astros scratched across an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning against Rays right-hander Taj Bradley (4-5) and made that tally stand. Houston recorded one-run victories in its two wins during the series while allowing 29 runs in losses on Thursday and Saturday.

Brown (8-3) earned a measure of revenge against the Rays, who tagged Brown with his worst showing of the season by scoring five runs on seven hits, including three home runs, over five innings on May 21 in Tampa. Brown worked six innings in the rematch and issued four walks while recording five strikeouts. Brown threw 93 pitches, just 49 for strikes.

Brown retired the first six batters he faced before he issued his first walk to Kameron Misner leading off the top of the third inning. Astros catcher Yainer Diaz erased Misner as he attempted to steal second base, mitigating a subsequent Brown walk to Matt Thaiss later in the inning.

Brown worked around a leadoff walk to Junior Caminero in the fifth and another to Thaiss to open the sixth. Josh Lowe followed the walk to Thaiss with the lone hit off Brown, a single to left field, but Brown rallied by inducing Yandy Diaz to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Bryan King, Bryan Abreu and closer Josh Hader completed the combined two-hit shutout. Hader notched his 15th save with a perfect ninth.

Bradley was exceptional, but a fielding error by Caminero at third base allowed Jeremy Pena to reach second base to open the bottom of the first. Three batters later, Christian Walker delivered an RBI single that scored Pena.

Bradley allowed just one additional baserunner to reach scoring position. Mauricio Dubon walked leading off the third and advanced to third when Pena added a single. But Bradley retired six consecutive batters following the Pena hit. When Pena walked with one out and Dubon on in the fifth, Bradley responded by retiring the final eight batters he faced.

Bradley allowed three hits, issued two walks and had a season-high 10 strikeouts over seven innings.

--Field Level Media