ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Luis Garcia scattered three hits over six innings and the Houston Astros ended the Tampa Bay Rays‘ 14-game season-opening home winning streak, 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Only three teams had a longer run than the Rays, who are 20-4 overall.
“It was a little weird,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said of the first home loss. “Walking in there [the clubhouse] with no music or anything like that, but I’m guessing they’ll get the music back on soon.”
The 1880 Chicago White Stockings, who became the Cubs, hold the MLB record for the longest season-opening home streak with 21. The 1886 Detroit Wolverines had an 18-game stretch, while the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association won 16 in a row, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The announced crowd for the game between the MLB-best Rays and the defending World Series champion Astros (13-11) at Tropicana Field was just 9,916.
Garcia (2-2) struck out seven, walked two and allowed just one runner to reach scoring position. The right-hander was coming off a start last Wednesday in which he gave up two hits over seven shutout innings in an 8-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
“Garcia, he was great, especially against a hot team and a very good offensive team,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “He had command of every pitch.”
Tampa Bay entered the game outscoring its opponents 157-64. The Rays were held homerless for the second consecutive game after going deep 48 times during an MLB-record 22 straight to begin a season.
It was the first time the Rays have been shut out this season.
Phil Maton, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined to finish a five-hitter.
