Houston Astros wrap up 5-1 road trip with 1-0 win over Tampa Bay Rays

ParallelDesk 12:34:36 PM, 27 April 2023

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The Houston Astros had a big night on Wednesday as they closed out a successful 5-1 road trip with a 1-0 win against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Rookie pitcher Hunter Brown improved his season record to 3-0 with an impressive performance, allowing the Rays just two hits and two walks while striking out eight over seven shutout innings. The Astros were also boosted by second baseman Mauricio Dubon, who hit in his 20th consecutive game — the longest streak by an Astros player since 2011. However, it was not just Dubon's hitting streak that was making news. The Astros' fans and analysts are increasingly impressed with Brown's performance and have predicted that he could potentially be Rookie of the Year or even earn the Cy Young Award. Brown proved his worth in just two starts last season and continued to impress this year, taking up a spot in the rotation left vacant by Justin Verlander when he left for the Mets. The Astros continued their strong form, rebounding after a loss in the series opener to earn back-to-back shutout victories against the Rays. The team even handed Tampa Bay their first home game loss of the season and series loss. Fans were quick to point out the Rays' apparent weaknesses as the Astros took control of the game, with some even predicting that the Houston Astros lineup could be the best offense in baseball once everyone is back to full health. The Astros have now edged closer to the American League West lead and are just one-half game off the division lead, behind the Texas Rangers. The team is set to host the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, but the Rangers will have a chance to widen the gap when they host the New York Yankees on Thursday. With the season still in its early stages, it remains to be seen how the Astros and their rivals will fare in the coming months.