Dubón's clutch hit charges surging Astros to 8th straight win

ST. PETERSBURG -- Despite being held to two hits Wednesday night, the Astros still found a way to grind out a nail-biting win. That’s how things are going these days for Houston, which has clawed its way to the top of the American League West despite numerous injuries to key players and underperformance from others.

Nothing has come easy this season, and the Astros’ 2-1 win over the Rays in 10 innings Wednesday night at Tropicana Field -- their season-high eighth win in a row, all of which have come on the road -- was the type of victory that showed the grit and fight of a team with a championship pedigree and one playing with a sense of urgency.

Mauricio Dubón snapped an 0-for-14 drought with a sharp RBI single up the middle in the top of the 10th inning that was the game-winner. Josh Hader, who threw 12 pitches in the ninth inning, slammed the door in the bottom of the 10th to send Houston home to face the White Sox following an 8-1 road trip.

“A heck of a road trip,” first-year manager Joe Espada said. “We took care of business. We beat some really good teams on the road and we played really well. Close game. Another one-run ballgame. Well-pitched, made plays when we needed to and some big hits when we had to. Big win.”

After losing to the Rangers in extra innings in Arlington on Aug. 5 to begin the trip, the Astros ripped off two wins at Texas before sweeping the Red Sox at Fenway Park and the Rays at Tropicana Field. They improved to a season-high 10 games over .500 (65-55) and are a season-high 2 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Mariners in the AL West.

“That’s who we are, just coming out here to try and take it a game at a time and try to win,” Dubón said. “If we lose, it happens. If not, get on the next one.”

Dubón’s game-winning single off Garrett Cleavinger with two outs in the 10th was Houston’s first hit since Jeremy Peña’s leadoff homer off Rays starter Zack Littell in the fifth inning. The Astros won a game with only two hits for the first time since Sept. 5, 2017, and it’s the first time in club history they did it in extra innings.

The Astros improved to 13-19 in one-run games, and five of their eight wins during their winning streak have been by two runs or fewer.

“I feel like we’ve picked each other up,” Peña said.

Astros starter Ronel Blanco turned in his best start in a month by needing only 73 pitches to throw six scoreless innings, but he was forced to leave when a 106.5 mph comebacker off the bat of Brandon Lowe grazed his index finger.

“It was really scary because I saw the ball coming toward my face and thankfully I was able to defend myself,” Blanco said. “I’m thankful it caught my finger and not my face.”

The finger became numb and X-rays were negative. Blanco, who was wearing a protective covering over the finger postgame, expects to make his next start.

“A bit sore, but he threw the ball really well,” Espada said. “Efficient early, a lot of early chases, a lot of early contact and he was able to be very efficient and get us in the sixth inning there. He threw the ball really, really well.”

Astros reliever Tayler Scott got two big outs to end the seventh and strand runners at second and third base to keep the Rays off the board. The Rays pushed the tying run across in the eighth when Taylor Walls slid home ahead of Jose Altuve’s throw following a grounder on a close play.

Hader retired all six batters he faced in the ninth and 10th innings, marking the fourth time this year he’s thrown at least two innings. He picked up the win when Dubón ripped his single up the middle to score Pedro León, who moments earlier was nearly thrown out while advancing to third base on a fly ball. Dubón went 3-for-22 on the road trip, but sent the Astros back to Texas as winners.

“That’s how you get going, big hits,” Espada said. “He’s a guy that’s going to put the ball in play, he’s a guy that’s going to compete. He’s a guy that likes the moment and that was a huge moment. A big hit.”