ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµapp

Walker and Paredes hit HRs, 4 pitchers combine for shutout as Astros beat Rays 2-0

HOUSTON (AP) — Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes hit solo home runs, and four pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout, and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 on Sunday.

Walker led off the fourth inning with his 20th home run of the season, giving him five consecutive 20-homer seasons. Paredes hit his 12th homer to leadoff the sixth.

Peter Lambert (7-5) struck out six while he allowed three hits and walked one over 5 2/3 innings. He was removed with a runner on second base, but Steven Okert got pinch-hitter Ryan Vilade to fly out to end the threat.

Okert pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and Bryan King worked around a leadoff single in the eighth before Josh Hader overcame a leadoff walk in the ninth for his ninth save. Hader has allowed one run and two hits over 15 innings this season.

Mason Englert (0-2) allowed the two runs and five hits with a career-high nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings after being recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game. Cam Booser and Craig Kimbrel followed and combined to hold the Astros scoreless for 2 1/3 innings.

The Rays have lost back-to-back games after winning nine straight.

Yordan Alvarez was 0 for 4 after hitting two home runs, including a walk-off homer in a win Saturday.

Up next

Astros RHP Mike Burrows (4-8, 5.58 ERA) starts against Nationals RHP Miles Mikolas (2-7, 5.44) in the first game of a three-game series Monday night in Washington, D.C.

Rays RHP Griffin Jax (4-5, 3.45 ERA) starts against Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (8-5, 2.08) in the first game of a four-game series Monday night in Tampa Bay.

___

AP MLB:

Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµapp account for notifications and alerts customized for you.