TAMPA (Interstat) — Ian Seymour struck out 10 over six innings, Nick Madrigal delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Houston Astros 3-2 on Saturday night, Sept. 12, at George Steinbrenner Field. The win moved Tampa Bay to 89-59 and dropped Houston to 75-74. A crowd of 24,642 watched the game, which took 2 hours, 44 minutes.

Seymour allowed two earned runs on four hits while walking none. He left with the score tied at 2-2 and did not factor in the decision. Houston starter Peter Lambert allowed three earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts over six innings. He took the loss and fell to 8-9. Tyler Wells earned the win for Tampa Bay and improved to 5-2. Bryan Baker recorded his 40th save, working 1.1 innings and allowing one hit with one strikeout.

The Rays returned to work a day after clinching a postseason berth. They have spent much of the season with the best record in the American League and have their sights set on an AL East title and a first-round bye. The Yankees’ loss to the Mets increased Tampa Bay’s division lead to four games with 14 remaining. The Rays will still have a key series at Yankee Stadium from Sept. 22-24, but adding to the lead now helps.

Houston had won two of three against Philadelphia before arriving in Tampa. The Astros had also won four of six overall, but they dropped the series opener Friday. Tampa Bay had won three of four and had taken the first game of the series. The Rays continued to get strong starting pitching, and Seymour’s outing was the latest example.

Houston opened the scoring in the first inning. Jeremy Peña struck out swinging before Isaac Paredes homered to left-center field, his 20th of the season, for a 1-0 lead. Jose Altuve walked and Yainer Diaz singled to put two runners on, but Seymour retired Daulton Varsho on a foul tip and Christian Walker on a swinging strikeout to end the inning.

Seymour settled in after that. He retired the side in order in the second and third innings. In the second, Victor Mesa Jr. struck out swinging, Chandler Simpson grounded out and Cedric Mullins grounded out. In the third, Richie Palacios lined out, Jorge Mateo struck out and Yandy Díaz was called out on strikes.

Houston could not add to its lead in the middle innings. In the second, Cam Smith grounded out, Taylor Trammell grounded out and Christian Vázquez was called out on strikes. In the third, Peña, Paredes and Altuve all made outs. In the fourth, Diaz popped out, Varsho struck out and Walker grounded out. Seymour used his strikeout pitch to keep the Astros off balance, and Houston left runners stranded in the first.

Tampa Bay broke through in the fifth. Mesa singled on a ground ball to right, and Simpson singled on a line drive to center, sending Mesa to third. Mullins then laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Simpson to second. Palacios followed with a two-run single to center that scored Mesa and Simpson, giving the Rays a 2-1 lead. Mateo struck out swinging to end the inning.

Houston answered in the sixth. Peña popped out and Paredes flied out sharply before Altuve doubled on a fly ball to left. Diaz then singled on a ground ball to left, scoring Altuve and tying the game at 2-2. Varsho grounded out to second to end the inning. Diaz finished the game with three hits and one RBI. Paredes had one hit, a home run, and one RBI.

The Rays regained the lead in the seventh. Liam Hicks led off with a double on a line drive to right. Victor Mesa Jr. walked, and Kenny Piper, running for Hicks, moved to third when Simpson grounded into a force out at second. Madrigal, pinch-hitting for Mullins against left-hander Bennett Sousa, hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Piper. Simpson advanced to second on the play. Jonny DeLuca then singled on a ground ball to second, moving Simpson to third, but Mateo lined out to right to end the inning.

Tampa Bay’s offense was balanced. Palacios drove in two runs with a single in the fifth. Madrigal drove in the winning run in the seventh. Hicks doubled and was replaced by Piper, who scored the go-ahead run. Simpson reached base and advanced into scoring position. DeLuca added a single. The Rays did not hit a home run but manufactured the winning run with a double, a walk, a force out and a sacrifice fly.

Tampa Bay’s bullpen protected the lead. Wells pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out two and walking one. Ty Johnson recorded two outs in the eighth, and Baker finished the eighth before closing the ninth. Baker allowed one hit and struck out one over 1.1 innings. Johnson allowed no hits and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning. Seymour’s 10 strikeouts were the most important part of the game for Tampa Bay. He kept Houston from building on its early lead and gave the Rays a chance to rally.

Houston threatened in the eighth. Peña walked with one out. Paredes grounded out to third, moving Peña to second. Altuve struck out swinging. Diaz then singled on a ground ball to second, moving Peña to third, but Varsho struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the ninth, Walker grounded out to third, Smith flied out to shortstop and Trammell flied out sharply to right. The Rays closed out their second straight win over Houston and their fourth victory in five games. Tampa Bay had seven hits, while Houston had five.

Paredes went 1-for-4 with a home run and one RBI for Houston. Diaz went 3-for-4 with one RBI. Lambert allowed six hits and three earned runs while striking out four. Blubaugh pitched a scoreless inning and allowed one hit. Sousa and King each recorded scoreless outings in relief. For Tampa Bay, Baker, Wells, Johnson and Seymour combined to limit Houston’s offense. The Astros had five hits and the Rays had seven.

Houston will play the Rays again Sunday before returning home to face Kansas City. Tampa Bay will host Houston on Sunday, then welcome the Athletics and Red Sox. The Astros are now 75-74, while the Rays are 89-59.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tampa Bay Rays 6, Houston Astros 5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tampa Bay with a 58.1 percent probability to win. Tampa Bay had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 5 went over the over/under line of 8.