Rays Rally, Walk Off Astros to End Home Losing Streak

The Tampa Bay Rays continued their struggles at Steinbrenner Field, dropping two close games to the Houston Astros and falling to one of the weakest home records in MLB. On Monday, the Rays rallied from a three-run deficit to tie the game 3-3, but ultimately lost 4-3 after a late home run by Houston's Jake Meyers; Tampa Bay managed only one hit in ten chances with runners in scoring position, a recurring problem this season. Tuesday's game saw the Rays again come from behind, tying the Astros in the eighth inning before Taylor Walls' sacrifice fly scored Christopher Morel for a 3-2 walk-off win, improving their home record slightly. Both games highlighted the Rays' inability to consistently capitalize on scoring opportunities at home, a concern echoed by manager Kevin Cash, with Tampa Bay now facing a daunting schedule heavy with road games. Houston's Isaac Paredes and Jake Meyers were pivotal, delivering key extra-base hits and home runs over the series. The series underscored ongoing questions about the Rays' performance at their temporary home and their prospects for the rest of the season.