Houston Astros defeat Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 to arrest five game slide at Minute Maid Park – MLB news
Houston Astros arrested a five game slide as they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at the Minute Maid Park. The win was fuelled by some tremendous pitching by starting pitcher Bud Norris and two home-runs by Chris Carter.
Tampa Bay manager Joe praised the excellent work by Bud who was able to get out of jams in order to keep the game in control. Joe felt that the starting pitcher set it all for the Astros.
“You've got to give them credit the way they bounced back today, and their pitcher set up the whole thing,” said Maddon.
Bud allowed three walks and a total of six hits in seven innings. It wasn't his best pitching night but he was able to record a win and hold his nerve at crucial junctures of the ballgame.
Astros’ manager Bo Porter was also pleased with how Norris managed the whole affair and was able to get out of tough situations. The manager felt that the pitcher used his armoury to good effect after being in trouble at the top of the first innings.
“He did a great job minimizing the damage,” Porter said. “He was able to do that by using all of his pitches and was able to get out of a jam that could've been a crooked number. It set him up for the next six innings.”
It was the sixth win for the pitcher who now has a 6-7 win-loss record. He has been Astros' ace pitcher in 2013. The save as recorded by Jose Versa.
The role of Chris Carter, who homered twice in the game, can certainly not be overlooked. The hitter went long in the bottom of the second when his team was trailing by a single run in a solo effort. It was, however, his second home-run that created the
most impact as he drove in three runs. Carter scored all of the four RBI's in the game for the Houston ballclub. Chris now has 17 home-runs this season.
Manager Bo Porter felt that Chris was able to brave the tough stuff by fouling off a lot of the pitches and when the opportunity presented itself, he made sure that he took full toll of it.
“Chris fouled off some tough pitches, laid off some tough ones and was patient enough to get the ones that he can drive,” Porter said. “He didn't miss them tonight. Those balls were squared up pretty good.”
It is an important win for the Houston Astros who need to continue on the good form they showed during the month of June. They will in the process have to raise their game as they did against the Tampa Bay Rays to perform more consistently.
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