​In mid-June, convincing anyone—let alone Katie Bueller—that the Rays were playing well would have been a tough sell. Even after tonight’s 3-1 victory, which extended Tampa Bay’s winning streak to nine games, she remained in disbelief. The sportos, motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, and dweebies in Tampa Bay clearly enjoyed a sharp, 2-hour-21-minute game that felt like a getaway contest. With just 10 hitters reaching base, the Rays still managed to prevail thanks to a big night from Nick Fortes and a solo homer by Junior Caminero against the Astros. Nick Martinez pitched 5.1 solid innings, allowing only one blemish—a meatball to Yordan Álvarez that he deposited over the right-center field fence. Alvarez’s blast was decisive, though Martinez has flirted with giving up homers in recent outings, aided by favorable indoor conditions that have helped limit those homers overall. The late innings were clean for Kevin Kelly, Casey Legumina, and Bryan Baker, who combined to retire the final 11 Astros without allowing a baserunner, continuing their strong recent form.
Fortes owned the night, driving in the first run with a homer off Spencer Arrighetti to disrupt his strong start. He returned in the eighth and lofted a high fastball into the left-center wall, delivering another impact moment. Yanier Díaz had wanted a fastball away, but Enyel De Los Santos left it high, allowing Fortes to rip a chin-high heater and stay on top for the big hit. This game embodied classic Rays baseball: just enough offense to support a standout pitching performance. Martinez exited after 85 pitches, just before a third matchup with Cam Smith, who had already faced him twice earlier. Kelly earned his fifth win of the season, while Baker closed it out with a perfect ninth for his 23rd save. The Rays will chase a 10th straight win in what should be a clash of aces, as Drew Rasmussen and Hunter Brown are slated to start for the opponents.