Astros vs. Rays score, result: Tampa Bay quiets Houston in ALCS Game 7 to reach World Series

Dan Bernstein

•
Astros vs. Rays score, result: Tampa Bay quiets Houston in ALCS Game 7 to reach World Series image

The Rays fended off the Astros in Game 7 of the ALCS on Saturday to advance to the World Series.

A first-inning home run by breakout star Randy Arozarena and a stellar start from Charlie Morton gave Tampa Bay an early edge. Manager Kevin Cash's bullpen then withstood tense moments to hold onto a 4-2 win.

Morton lasted 5 2/3 innings and rarely met trouble. Cash removed him at just 66 pitches, a controversial decision that paid off. Houston's only runs came on a two-run single by Carlos Correa in the eighth.

The Rays, of course, led the series 3-0 before dropping three straight. An Astros team that entered the 2020 campaign hated because of a sign-stealing scandal felt empowered as MLB's villain, eager to stick a shocking ALCS turnaround in the faces of its critics. Tampa Bay's pitching staff denied it that satisfaction.

Tampa Bay will face the Braves or Dodgers in the World Series, which will begin Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Atlanta and LA will play for the National League championship in a Game 7 on Sunday.

Sporting News tracked Game 7 between the Astros and Rays with live updates, highlights and commentary. Follow along below too see how Tampa Bay pulled off the victory.

Astros vs. Rays final score

FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R
Astros 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Rays 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 4

Astros vs. Rays result, highlights for ALCS Game 7

Top 9

10:54 p.m.: Diaz flies out and the Rays are AL champs!

10:51 p.m.: Reddick strikes out. High fastball.

10:48 p.m.: Gurriel whips a single to right field. The tying run will come to the plate.

10:47 p.m.: Tucker strikes out. 99 mph fastball above the zone. One out.

10:43 p.m.: Tampa Bay is sticking with Fairbanks on the mound. Another gutsy pitching decision from Cash.

Bottom 8

10:41 p.m.: Wendle hits into a double play. Ninth inning time.

10:39 p.m.: Paredes walks Adames.

10:36 p.m.: Right-hander Enoli Paredes replaces Blake Taylor with a runner on first and one out.

Top 8

10:26 p.m.: Bregman chases an 100 mph fastball to end the inning. The Astros inch closer but will have just one more chance to even the score.

10:23 p.m.: TWO-RUN SINGLE FOR CORREA. Game on.

10:21 p.m.: Four-pitch walk. Correa comes up with the bases loaded, down by four. Drama!

10:21 p.m.: A ball in the dirt squirts away from Zunino, allowing Altuve to advance to second.

10:20 p.m.: Peter Fairbanks enters to face Brantley.

10:16 p.m.: Adames can't handle a grounder to his third base side. It's ruled an infield single for Altuve. First and third with two outs.

10:14 p.m.: Springer grounds into a fielder's choice following a walk by Aledmys Diaz.

10:11 p.m.: The Rays are four outs away from the second World Series appearance in franchise history.

10:10 p.m.: Anderson remains on the mound for the eighth. He retires Reddick on one pitch.

Bottom 7

11:06 p.m.: Taylor pitches a clean seventh.

11:03 p.m.: Left-hander Blake Taylor is in for the Astros.

Top 7

10:57 p.m.: Yuli Gurriel spoils the rally by hitting into a double play.

10:56 p.m.: Kyle Tucker delivers a hard-hit single up the middle. Bregman advances to third base.

10:55 p.m.: Bregman, who has been slumping, drops a single into right field.

10:54 p.m.: Correa flies out on the first pitch he sees.

Bottom 6

10:51 p.m.: Kiermaier strikes out. Onto the seventh inning we go.

10:47 p.m.: Zunino comes through with a sacrifice fly.

10:45 p.m.: Wendle advances Choi to third with a fly ball to deep right.

10:41 p.m.: Adames walks. The two-on, no-out situation prompts a lengthy mound meeting.

10:38 p.m.: Choi drills a leadoff single up the middle.

Top 6

10:36 p.m.: Anderson induces a ground out.

10:30 p.m.: Kevin Cash takes out Morton at 66 pitches. Wow. He'll be crushed if that move backfires.

10:29 p.m.: Infield hit for Jose Altuve. First and third with two outs for the Astros.

10:29 p.m.: The Rays have Nick Anderson up in the bullpen. Have to imagine Morton would be very unhappy to be pulled anytime soon.

10:26 p.m.: Springer hits into a fielder's choice, beating out a possible double play.

10:25 p.m.: Maldonado draws a four-pitch walk.

10:23 p.m.: Morton strikes out Josh Reddick to start the sixth.

Bottom 5

10:19 p.m.: Correa, stationed at second base with Meadows hitting, ranges way into foul territory to make an inning-ending catch.

10:18 p.m. Urquidy fools Arozarena with a breaking ball. The outfielder was way out in front of a hittable pitch and whiffed. Two outs.

10:13 p.m.: Lowe grounds into a fielder's choice. One out.

10:11 p.m.: Urquidy walks Margot.

10:09 p.m.: Right-hander Jose Urquidy comes in for the bottom of the fifth.

Top 5

10:05 p.m.: Six-pitch inning.

10:04 p.m. Morton still hasn't thrown his 50th pitch. He's now retired 12 in a row.

10:02 p.m.: Choi stretches out to snag an errant throw to first base, preventing a leadoff baserunner.

Bottom 4

9:59 p.m.: Left-hander Brooks Raley does his job and strikes out Kevin Kiermaier.

9:53 p.m.: McCullers strikes out Zunino. He's then pulled from the game with two outs and Wendle on first base.

9:48 p.m.: Wendle hits a one-out single.

Top 4

9:44 p.m.: Morton tosses another three-up, three-down inning. He's retired 10 in a row.

Bottom 3

9:35 p.m.: Meadows hits an inning-ending flyout.

9:30 p.m.: Altuve boots a ground ball but still gets the force out at second base. Two down.

9:28 p.m.: Lowe bunts for a hit. Arozarena grounds into a fielder's choice and stands on first with one out.

9:27 p.m.: Have to think McCullers' leash is short moving forward. Any trouble and he might get pulled.

Top 3

9:25 p.m.: Morton twirls a seven-pitch inning. He looks really good.

Bottom 2

9:20 p.m.: McCullers strikes out the next two batters and we're through two innings in San Diego.

9:15 p.m.: Mike Zunino hits a solo home run to extend Tampa Bay's lead to 3-0.

Top 2

9:08 p.m.: Morton sets down the Astros in order.

9:04 p.m.: Adames robs Alex Bregman of a hit with a nifty play at shortstop.

Bottom 1

9 p.m.: Willy Adames strikes out to end the frame. McCullers needed 30 pitches to get through the inning.

8:58 p.m.: Ji-Man Choi draws a walk after an Austin Meadows strikeout.

8:57 p.m.: Arozarena has seven postseason home runs now.

8:52 p.m.: RANDY AROZARENA DOES IT AGAIN. TWO-RUN HOME RUN.

8:49 p.m.: Lowe strikes out. One gone with Margot still on first base.

8:48 p.m.: Brandon Lowe, the No. 2 hitter for the Rays, has been awful during the postseason. His stellar regular-season play has kept him high in the lineup. A hit here would really kickstart an early rally.

8:47 p.m.: Lance McCullers drills Manuel Margot in the back on his first offering of the game.

Top 1

8:43 p.m.: Carlos Correa strikes out on a pitch in the dirt to end the top of the first.

8:42 p.m.: Michael Brantley delivers an opposite-field single with two outs. Classic Brantley at-bat.

8:35 p.m.: Charlie Morton's the first pitch is outside and Game 7 is underway.

Astros vs. Rays start time

  • First pitch: 8:35 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: TBS
  • Live stream: Watch TBS

Game 7 between the Astros and Rays is scheduled to start at 8:35 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast nationally on TBS. 

World Series schedule 2020

The 2020 World Series will take place exclusively in Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. It's the only postseason series in 2020 that has built-in off days, as well. 

In years past, World Series first pitch usually occurs around 8:07 p.m. ET, so expect that for 2020.

Date Game Start time TV channel
Tuesday, Oct. 20 Game 1 TBD Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 21 Game 2 TBD Fox
Friday, Oct. 23 Game 3 TBD Fox
Saturday, Oct. 24 Game 4 TBD Fox
Sunday, Oct. 25 Game 5* TBD Fox
Tuesday, Oct. 27 Game 6* TBD Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 28 Game 7* TBD Fox

*If necessary

Dan Bernstein