ST. PETERSBURG -- With a banged-up bullpen lacking a left-handed option, the Rays talked about the importance of having starters work deeper into games before Sunday's series finale vs. the Astros.
Spotted a four-run advantage in the first inning against the Astros, Matt Andriese seemed poised early on to provide that needed assistance. But after five innings -- and 88 pitches -- the right-hander's afternoon was done in what ended in a 6-4 Rays loss in 10 innings at Tropicana Field.
Andriese gave up three runs on six hits, including two home runs, and two walks. It was the fourth time in five games a Tampa Bay starter has not worked past the fifth.
"I just didn't have my great command today," Andriese said. "I still battled through there. … That's just the way it goes sometimes."
Despite giving up homers to Astros sluggers Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve, Andriese worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and departed in line for the victory. But Rays closer Alex Colome's first blown save of the season and an offense that had two hits over the final nine innings after notching five in the opening frame did Andriese no favors.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Andriese never settled into a groove, which in turn, forced the Rays to use four relievers to throw the game's final five innings.
"He battled with himself a lot and couldn't quite find comfort in the zone, and he started pumping strikes," Cash said. "When we put the four-spot [in the first] and he goes back and loads the bases, nobody scored, but that was a little telling that you have some separation to work with right there and didn't take advantage as much as we could have."
Andriese, coming off a confidence-boosting first win of the season over the Tigers on Tuesday, will settle for a learning experience from his start against the Astros.
"I was just falling," Andriese said. "I'd get two quick outs in the inning and then just kind of stopped attacking from there. It's one of those outings you can definitely learn a lot from, but I felt good. I felt like I had some more in the tank, that's for sure"