Tampa Bay Rays lost 1-0 to Houston Astros on June 2, 2025, despite Taj Bradley's 10 Ks. Rays' bats silent with 2 hits. Read how Bradley's gem wasn't enough.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tough pill to swallow on Sunday, Rays fans. Despite a masterful performance from Taj Bradley, the bats went quiet as the Tampa Bay Rays dropped a tight 1-0 decision to the Houston Astros, resulting in a four-game series split at Minute Maid Park. Two hits. That's all the offense could muster, a frustrating end to a road trip that had its ups and downs.
Taj Bradley was electric, striking out 10 Astros over seven innings, yet a lone unearned run was the difference.
The story of Sunday's game was, without a doubt, the Rays' silent bats. Astros starter Hunter Brown was in complete control, taking a no-hitter deep into the game and ultimately allowing just one Rays hit over his dominant six innings to notch his MLB-best eighth win. Josh Lowe managed to break up the no-no in the sixth, but that, along with one other lonely single, was the extent of Tampa Bay's offensive output. You can't win if you don't score, and Sunday was a stark reminder of that, as the Rays fell to 30-29 on the season.
It's a bitter feeling when your starter pitches his heart out and still gets saddled with the loss. That was the case for Taj Bradley (now 4-5), who was simply outstanding. He fanned 10 Astros, scattered three hits, and walked two over seven brilliant innings. The only run he 'allowed' was unearned, a direct result of a tough fielding error by Junior Caminero at third in the first inning. Jeremy Peña reached on the miscue and was later driven in by a Christian Walker two-out single. Bradley deserved a much better fate.
The tension of the low-scoring affair and the offensive struggles perhaps came to a head in the ninth inning. With one out, infielder Taylor Walls was ejected by home plate umpire Nic Lentz for arguing balls and strikes during a crucial at-bat against Astros closer Josh Hader. Christopher Morel had to step in to finish the plate appearance, striking out. It was a visible sign of the frustration on a day where nothing seemed to go right at the plate for the Rays.
With the Houston series now in the rearview mirror, the Rays turn their attention to a welcome six-game homestand at the Trop. The action kicks off Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers. The team has announced that our own Drew Rasmussen (4-4, 2.33 ERA) will take the mound for the series opener. He'll be in for a duel, as the Rangers counter with their ace, Tyler Mahle (5-2, 1.64 ERA). It’s a chance to flush Sunday's disappointment and get back in the win column.
Losing a 1-0 game where your starter deals like Bradley did is always a tough one, especially when the offense just can't find its footing. Splitting the series in Houston is respectable, but the way it ended leaves us wanting more. Here's to some home cooking and waking up the bats against the Rangers. Tuesday can't come soon enough!
