Pearce has 3 hits, drives in 2 as Rays beat Astros 4-3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Steve Pearce continued a hot stretch with three hits and two RBIs, helping the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
Pearce had a two-run double in the first inning, and Logan Forsythe and Brad Miller drove in runs with two-out hits off Lance McCullers (3-2) in the second to give Matt Andriese (5-0) an early four-run lead.
Houston rallied with three runs in the sixth, two on Jason Castro's homer that chased Andriese. However, the Astros were not able to overcome the slow start by McCullers against the young right-hander's hometown team.
McCullers, who grew up in Tampa, allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.