Houston at Tampa Bay

Houston at Tampa Bay

This is Missed It. Houston at Tampa Bay, Friday, September 11, with the Astros. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

The Houston Astros are in Tampa Bay tonight, taking on the Rays. We're all square at zero and zero before a single pitch is thrown, and it's our guys on the road looking to make some noise. The Astros have the ball first, and the Rays are ready to answer. It's a fresh start, a clean slate, and we're here for every pitch of it.

Innings 1-3

Top of the first, and the Astros come out swinging. Three batters, no runs, and we're right back to the field. The Rays answer with three of their own, and nobody's crossed the plate yet. It's a pitcher's duel early, and we're just getting warmed up. Top of the second, same story. Three batters, no runs. The Rays match it, three batters, no runs. We're still locked at zero and zero, and the tension is starting to build. Neither side is giving an inch. Then comes the top of the third, and this is where it starts to sting. One out, two on, and Jose Altuve steps in. We've got runners at first and second, and this is our chance to break through. Altuve takes his swing, and it's a ground ball to second. Richie Palacios fields it, fires to Jonathan Aranda at first, and just like that, it's a double play. Nick Allen is out at second, Altuve is out at first, and the inning is over. The rally dies right there, and the crowd in Tampa breathes a little easier. We had something going, and it slipped away in a heartbeat. The Rays come up in the bottom of the third, four batters, no runs. We're still tied at zero and zero, but that missed chance is hanging in the air. We had our shot, and we couldn't take it.

Innings 4-6

Top of the fourth, and we finally get something going. One out, bases empty, and Isaac Paredes steps in. He gets a pitch he likes and sends a sharp line drive to left field, past Chandler Simpson. It's a double, and suddenly we've got a runner in scoring position. The bench is up, the energy is shifting. Daulton Varsho is next, and he doesn't waste any time. He lines a single to center field, Cedric Mullins can't get to it, and Paredes is on the move. He stops at third, and now we've got runners at the corners with one out. This is the moment we've been waiting for. Yainer Diaz comes up, and he gets a ground ball to second. Richie Palacios fields it, fires to Jorge Mateo at short, and the force play is on. Paredes breaks for home, and he's safe. The run scores, and we've got the lead, one to nothing. Varsho is out at second, Diaz reaches first, but it doesn't matter. We're on the board, and the dugout is alive. The Rays come up in the bottom of the fourth, three batters, no runs. We hold the lead, one to nothing, and we're feeling good. Top of the fifth, five batters, no runs. We can't add on, but we're still ahead. Then the bottom of the fifth, and the Rays answer. No outs, bases empty, and Victor Mesa Jr. steps in. He gets a pitch and sends it deep to right center field. It's gone. A home run, and just like that, the game is tied at one and one. The lead we worked for is gone, and the air goes out of the balloon just a little. Top of the sixth, four batters, no runs. We can't get anything going. Bottom of the sixth, and the Rays have three batters, no runs, but there's a moment. No outs, bases empty, and Jorge Mateo is hit by the pitch. He takes his base, and the Rays have a runner on. They can't bring him in, but the threat is there. We escape, and we're still tied at one and one heading into the break.

The Stretch

So here we are, one to one, and it feels like the game is hanging by a thread. The play that turned this half was back in the top of the third, when we had two on and one out, and Jose Altuve grounded into that double play. We had a chance to strike first, and it slipped through our fingers. That's the one that stings. We've had our moments since, we got the run in the fourth, but we haven't been able to build on it. The Rays are hanging around, and we need to find a way to break through. We need to get the bats going, we need to put pressure on them, and we need to take control of this game before it slips away entirely.

The Sequence

Top of the seventh, and we're still tied at one and one. Three batters, no runs. We can't get anything going, and the frustration is starting to build. Bottom of the seventh, the Rays have four batters, no runs. We escape again, but we're not doing ourselves any favors. Top of the eighth, three batters, no runs. We're running out of time, and the tension is thick. Bottom of the eighth, and this is where it gets interesting. One out, bases empty, and Richie Palacios draws a walk. The Rays have a runner on, and we need a big play. Jorge Mateo steps in, and he grounds into a double play. Jeremy Peña fields it, fires to Christian Walker at first, and just like that, the threat is over. Palacios is out at second, Mateo is out at first, and we escape. The inning ends, and we're still tied at one and one. Top of the ninth, and this is our last chance. Four batters, no runs. We can't push anything across, and we hand it to the bottom of the ninth, still tied at one and one. Bottom of the ninth, and the Rays have the bats. One out, bases empty, and Jonathan Aranda steps in. He gets a pitch and sends a fly ball to right field, past Cam Smith. It's a double, and the Rays have a runner in scoring position. The tension is unbearable. Junior Caminero is next, and he doesn't waste any time. He gets a pitch and sends it deep to left center field. It's gone. A home run, and Jonny DeLuca scores ahead of him. The Rays take the lead, three to one, and the game is over. We had our chances, we fought, but we couldn't close it out.

Wrap-up

Final score, Houston one, Tampa Bay three. The Rays take it by two, and it's a tough one to swallow. We had our chances, we had the lead, but we couldn't hold on. The double play in the third, the missed opportunities in the late innings, it all adds up. We fought, we battled, but tonight, the Rays were just a little bit better. We'll take this one, we'll learn from it, and we'll come back stronger. That's all we can do.

Outro

That was Houston at Tampa Bay, from the Astros side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Houston at Tampa Bay

This is Missed It. Houston at Tampa Bay, Friday, September 11, with the Rays. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a fresh one here at the ballpark, and we've got a good one on our hands. The Houston Astros are in town to take on our Tampa Bay Rays. Both teams are looking to make a statement early, and we've got a full nine innings ahead of us. The energy is building, the crowd is getting settled, and it's time to play some baseball. Let's get into it.

Top 1 - Bot 3

The game starts off quiet, the way these pitcher's duels often do. Houston sends three batters to the plate in the top of the first, and we send them right back to the dugout. No runs, no drama, just clean baseball. We come up in the bottom of the first, and it's the same story. Three batters, no runs. It's a zero-zero ballgame, and it feels like both teams are feeling each other out. The second inning rolls around, and it's more of the same. Houston gets their three batters, we get ours, and neither side can crack the code. Still zero-zero. You can feel the tension starting to build, though. Both pitching staffs are dealing, and it's going to take something special to break through. Then comes the top of the third, and this is where things get interesting. Houston starts to put something together. With one out, they've got runners on first and second, and Jose Altuve steps to the plate. This is a big moment. The crowd is on its feet, trying to will our guys through it. Altuve makes contact, and for a split second, your heart stops. But then, Richie Palacios snags it at second, fires to Jonathan Aranda at first, and it's a double play. Nick Allen is out at second, Altuve is out at first, and just like that, the threat is gone. The inning is over. We escape unscathed, and the momentum is suddenly ours. The dugout is fired up, the crowd is roaring, and we come up in the bottom of the third with a little life. But we can't cash in. Four batters, no runs, and we head to the fourth still tied at zero.

Top 4 - Bot 6

The fourth inning is where Houston finally breaks through. With one out and nobody on, Isaac Paredes steps in and rips a sharp line drive down the left field line. Chandler Simpson gives chase, but it's off the wall, and Paredes is standing on second with a double. The momentum is shifting, and you can feel the visitors starting to breathe a little easier. Then Daulton Varsho comes up and singles on a line drive to center field. Cedric Mullins gets to it, but there's no play. Paredes is holding at third, and now there are runners on the corners with just one out. This is a jam. Yainer Diaz steps in, and he grounds one to Richie Palacios at second. Palacios flips to Jorge Mateo at short, and they get the force at second. But Paredes is coming home, and he scores. The run is in. Houston leads, one to nothing. Varsho is out at second, Diaz is safe at first, but the damage is done. They've got the lead, and we've got work to do. We come up in the bottom of the fourth, and we need an answer. But Houston's pitcher is locked in. Three batters, no runs, and we're still down one. The fifth inning comes, and Houston gets a couple of guys on, but they can't add to their lead. Five batters, no runs, and it's still one to nothing. Then it's our turn. Bottom of the fifth. No outs, bases empty. Victor Mesa Jr. steps to the plate, and he gets a pitch he likes. He swings, and the sound of the bat tells you everything. That ball is crushed to right center field. It's deep, it's gone, it's a home run. Mesa Jr. ties this ballgame up at one apiece, and the place erupts. That's what we needed. That's the spark. Four batters in the inning, one run, and we're right back in it. Houston comes up in the top of the sixth, and they're trying to answer. Four batters, no runs. We get our turn in the bottom of the sixth, and Jorge Mateo leads things off by getting hit by a pitch. That's a momentum swing, a little bit of grit, a little bit of fight. But we can't move him. Three batters, no runs, and we head to the stretch tied at one.

The Stretch

So here we are, tied at one, and it feels like this game is hanging on a knife's edge. The play that turned the first half, without a doubt, was that double play in the top of the third. Jose Altuve, two on, one out, and Richie Palacios and Jonathan Aranda turned it to get us out of the inning. That was the moment. That kept Houston off the board early, and it gave us the belief that we could hang with them. Now we need to find a way to push across that go-ahead run. We need a little more of that fight, a little more of that magic. The pitching has been there, the defense has been there, and now it's time for the bats to wake up and finish this thing.

The Sequence

The seventh inning comes, and it's a quick one. Houston sends three batters to the plate, and we send them right back. No runs. We come up, and we get four batters, but we can't push anything across. Still tied at one. The eighth inning is more of the same. Houston gets their three, we get ours, and the tension is getting thicker with every pitch. But in the bottom of the eighth, with one out and nobody on, Richie Palacios works a walk. That's a big at-bat. That's getting something started. But then Jorge Mateo steps in, and he grounds one to short. Jeremy Peña fields it, flips to Christian Walker at first, and it's a double play. Palacios is out at second, Mateo is out at first, and just like that, the inning is over. The threat is gone, and we head to the ninth still tied at one. Top of the ninth. Houston sends four batters to the plate, but they can't score. We get out of it, and now it's our turn. Bottom of the ninth. This is it. This is where games are won or lost. With one out and nobody on, Jonathan Aranda steps in, and he rips a fly ball to right field. Cam Smith gives chase, but it's off the wall. Aranda is standing on second with a double, and the crowd is on its feet. This is the moment. Junior Caminero steps to the plate. The tension is unbearable. He gets a pitch he likes, he swings, and the sound is unmistakable. That ball is crushed to left center field. It's deep, it's gone, it's a home run. Aranda scores, Caminero scores, and just like that, we've walked it off. Two runs in the bottom of the ninth, and the ballgame is over. We win it, three to one.

Wrap-up

Final score, Houston one, Tampa Bay three. We take this one, and it feels incredible. That bottom of the ninth, that home run from Junior Caminero, that's the kind of moment that makes this game so special. We battled, we hung in there, and we found a way to win. This one is for the fans, for the city, and for everyone who believes in this team. We'll take the win, and we'll get ready to do it again tomorrow. Go Rays.

Outro

That was Houston at Tampa Bay, from the Rays side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.