HOUSTON (AP) — James Shields became the first pitcher in Tampa Bay franchise history to throw three straight complete games and Evan Longoria homered and drove in three runs to lead the Rays to a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
Shields (8-4) allowed three hits and struck out nine with one walk.
He leads the majors with six complete games this season. He’s the first pitcher since Toronto’s Pat Hentgen in 1997 to have six complete game wins through the first 76 games of the season.
Longoria hit a two-run shot before Justin Upton’s solo homer gave Tampa Bay back-to-back homers for the first time this season in the Rays’ four-run third inning. Sean Rodriguez had three hits and scored twice and Longoria drove in a run in the fifth inning.
