HOUSTON (Interstat) — Peter Lambert tossed 5 2/3 innings of three-hit ball and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Daikin Park. Lambert (7-5) struck out six and walked none for Houston, which evened the three-game series at one win apiece. Josh Hader earned his ninth save with a perfect ninth inning, striking out two. Houston scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Isaac Paredes homered and Christian Walker also went deep for the Astros, who had six hits. Mason Englert (0-2) took the loss despite striking out nine over 5 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits and two earned runs. Tampa Bay managed only four hits and was shut out for the second time this season. The Rays fell to 52-35, while Houston improved to 45-47. Attendance was 29,003. The game lasted 2 hours, 37 minutes.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — Peter Lambert pitched five and two-thirds innings of three-hit shutout ball, Josh Hader earned his ninth save and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at Daikin Park. The Astros took two of three in the series after a 10-8 loss Friday and a 3-1 win Saturday. Houston improved to 45-47, while Tampa Bay dropped to 52-35. Lambert scattered three hits, struck out six and walked three. He allowed no earned runs in a bounce-back start after a loss to Minnesota on June 29 in which he gave up four earned runs in five and two-thirds innings. Lambert improved to 7-5. Mason Englert took the loss for Tampa Bay, falling to 0-2. He pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out nine and walking two. Englert matched Lambert’s innings total but was done in by two solo home runs. The game was scoreless through three innings. Both starters were sharp early. Lambert retired the side in order in the first inning, striking out Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero around a flyout by Jonathan Aranda. Englert worked out of a jam in the bottom of the first. Jose Altuve reached on a fielding error by shortstop Ben Williamson, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Hunter Feduccia. Englert struck out Yordan Alvarez, got Isaac Paredes to fly out and struck out Christian Walker to end the threat. Houston broke through in the fourth. Christian Walker led off the inning by hitting his 20th home run of the season on a fly ball to right field. That gave the Astros a 1-0 lead. Englert retired the next three batters in order. The Rays put a runner in scoring position in the fifth. Ben Williamson led off with a single to left. Victor Mesa Jr. struck out, but Richie Palacios grounded out to second, moving Williamson to third. Hunter Feduccia lined out to Walker at first to end the inning. Houston added an insurance run in the sixth. Isaac Paredes hit his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot to left-center field. Walker struck out, LaMonte Wade Jr. struck out, but Cam Smith singled to left. Englert struck out Zach Dezenzo to end the inning. Tampa Bay had its best chance to score in the eighth. Jonny DeLuca led off with a single to left off reliever Steven Okert. Nick Fortes popped out. A challenge by Houston on a force play at first was upheld after review. Díaz grounded into a force out, with DeLuca out at second. Jonathan Aranda flied out to left to end the inning. Hader entered in the ninth and struck out Ryan Vilade, got Chandler Simpson to line out to third and struck out Williamson to secure the save. Isaac Paredes went 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. Christian Walker went 1 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. Jose Altuve went 1 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. For Tampa Bay, Chandler Simpson had a single and a walk. Jonathan Aranda had two singles. Ben Williamson had a single. Jonny DeLuca had a single. Houston relievers Okert and Bryan King combined for two and one-third innings of one-hit relief. Okert struck out one. King pitched a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit. Tampa Bay relievers Cam Booser and Craig Kimbrel combined for two and one-third innings of one-hit relief. Booser struck out three. Kimbrel allowed one hit in the eighth. The game was played before an announced crowd of 29,003. The time of game was 2 hours and 37 minutes. The most important part of the game was the two solo home runs by Christian Walker in the fourth and Isaac Paredes in the sixth that accounted for all of the scoring. The starting pitchers dominated, combining for 15 strikeouts and allowing only nine hits. Lambert’s ability to keep the Rays off the board after the fifth-inning threat was critical, and Englert’s nine strikeouts were not enough to overcome the two long balls. Tampa Bay had won five straight games before the series opener. Houston had lost two of three entering the series. The Rays finished with four hits and struck out 11 times. The Astros had six hits and struck out 14 times. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tampa Bay Rays 8, Houston Astros 5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tampa Bay with a 51.70 percent probability to win. Tampa Bay had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of 2 went over the over-under line of 8.5.

HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays look to complete a series sweep against the Houston Astros on Sunday in a matchup of divisional contenders at Daikin Park. First pitch is set for the afternoon with a forecast of 97 degrees and clouds. The Rays (52-33) hold the best record in the American League and have won six straight games, including a 7-2 victory Saturday over the Astros. Tampa Bay also won the series opener 3-1 on Friday. Right-hander Nick Martinez (8-3, 3.12 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Rays. Martinez has been dominant recently, winning his last three decisions. In his most recent outing against the Astros on July 3, he allowed one earned run over 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts in a 3-1 victory. Over his past four starts, Martinez has a 2.42 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings. Houston (43-47) will counter with right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-9, 5.67 ERA). Arrighetti faced the Rays on July 3 and took the loss, allowing one earned run over six innings with four strikeouts. It was one of his better outings in a difficult stretch; he has lost four of his last five decisions and has a 7.71 ERA over his past three starts, including an 0-8 loss at Detroit on June 26 in which he allowed eight earned runs in three innings. The Astros have lost four of their last five games and are 3-7 in their past 10. Yordan Alvarez provided Houston’s lone run in Friday’s game with a solo home run. Tampa Bay has won nine of its last 10 games. Nick Fortes homered and drove in two runs in Friday’s win. According to Interstat’s game simulator, the Rays are projected to win 8-5. Following the series, the Rays return home for a four-game set against the New York Yankees starting Monday. The Astros travel to Washington for a three-game series against the Nationals beginning Monday.