Tampa Bay Rays vs Houston Astros Box Score on Jul 31, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 31, 2017

HOUSTON -- Jake Marisnick recorded his second career multi-homer game as the Houston Astros slugged their way to a 14-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.

Marisnick blasted his 12th and 13th home runs and went 3-for-4 with five RBIs. He was one of six starters to record multi-hit games for the Astros (69-36). Houston pounded out 17 hits off four Rays pitchers, with right-handed starter Alex Cobb (9-7) absorbing the brunt of the onslaught.

Rookie Derek Fisher homered and finished 3-for-5 with a walk and two RBIs for the Astros, whose offensive fireworks provided ample support for Charlie Morton (9-4). The right-hander allowed two runs on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts over six solid innings.

Rays left fielder Corey Dickerson smacked two homers, his 20th and 21st, and had three RBIs.

Cobb had worked at least six innings over nine consecutive starts, posting a glittering 2.24 ERA over the stretch. The Astros ended that run of effectiveness by striking for two runs with two outs in the second. Alex Bregman hit an RBI double. Jose Altuve was the third consecutive batter to reach with two outs in the inning, with his two-run opposite-field single pushing Houston to a 3-0 lead after Marisnick and Fisher worked walks.

The Astros kept pounding away at Cobb in the third, with Bregman and Tyler White recording back-to-back two-out singles to kick start the decisive rally. White plated Brian McCann with his hit to left field and later scored when Marisnick delivered the first of his two home runs, a first-pitch, three-run blast to left that built the lead to 7-2.

Fisher added his third home run of the season.

Cobb produced his shortest outing of the season, lasting just three innings while allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks.

NOTES: The Astros acquired LHP Francisco Liriano from the Toronto Blue Jays to fortify their bullpen. Liriano (6-5, 5.88 ERA) has started 274 of 303 career games but will work in relief. Houston shipped OF Norichika Aoki and minor leaguer Teoscar Hernandez to the Blue Jays. ... The Rays traded INF Tim Beckham to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league RHP Tobias Myers. In addition, the club recalled INF Taylor Featherston from Triple-A Durham. ... The Astros placed RHP Lance McCullers on the 10-day disabled list for a second time with back discomfort. Houston recalled 1B A.J. Reed and RHP Michael Feliz from Triple-A Fresno.