*Photo from Sports Illustrated*
Series tied 2-2
Willy Adames homered, Justin Verlander left early, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Houston Astros 4-1 to force a win or go home game 5. The rest of the country is finally witnessing the firepower Tampa Bay can bring on a nightly basis. Tommy Pham said that ''Hey, I hate to say it: About time, because we have a really good team over here." He added that ''All year, we've been getting talked down. And now, with the last two games, the way we played, the whole world has seen how good of a team we are and how well-rounded we are.''
The Rays scored 3 of their runs in the first inning. Pham hit a solo homer to left field, Travis D'Arnaud hit an RBI single, and Joey Wendle added an RBI double to make it 3-0. In the 4th, Adames chased Verlander with a solo shot to center field. The Astros got their only run on a Robinson Chirinos solo homer in the 8th.
The Rays had a bullpen game, and Ryan Yarbrough got the win, going two innings and giving up no runs on just two hits. Opener Diego Castillo went 1 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and one walk. The Rays went to game two starter Blake Snell to get the final two outs in the 9th, giving Snell his first career save. The Rays had some good defense on display, with Kevin Kiermaier hitting Willy Adames with his throw, and Adames threw the ball home to nab speedy Jose Altuve at the plate, saving a run. Kiermaier said that ''That was probably the most incredible relay throw from an infielder I've ever seen, that was such a huge moment for us, huge momentum shift, and it just doesn't get any better than that.''
Verlander lasted just 3 2/3 innings for Houston, giving up 4 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks. He is now 1-1 this postseason. Verlander said of his performance that it was ''Obviously, not the way you would script it, it sucks." Gerrit Cole said of the Rays that ''A lot of credit to them for their preparation and putting themselves in this position, I certainly think they've earned it. ... They've played calm, cool and collected.'' Manager AJ Hinch said that ''I felt it was the best chance to win the series - JV today and Gerrit in Game 5 if we needed it. We're going to test the latter part of that in Game 5.''
The win of go home game 5 is in Houston on Thursday night. The Rays will send game one starter Tyler Glasnow to the mound on regular rest, while Houston sends Gerrit Cole to the hill on normal rest.
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