Archer strikes out 10, Rays hit 3 HRs in 10-4 win vs Astros

HOUSTON (AP) - Chris Archer struck out 10 in seven innings, Corey Dickerson hit a three-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Houston Astros 10-4 on Sunday.

Matt Duffy and Nick Franklin also went deep for the last-place Rays, who have homered in 21 of their last 24 games.

Houston, in the hunt for an AL wild card, had won three straight.

Archer (8-17) gave up three runs on four hits and two walks. With his strikeout of A.J. Reed in the sixth, the right-hander joined David Price and James Shields as the only Tampa Bay pitchers with multiple 200-strikeout seasons.

Franklin and Evan Longoria each had three hits for the Rays, who jumped out early against Doug Fister (12-9).

The right-hander allowed four runs - two earned - and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, the fourth time in his past seven starts he has permitted four or more runs.

Steven Souza Jr. had an RBI groundout in the second. Doubles by Dickerson and Longoria made it 2-0 in the third.

Luke Maile hit an RBI double in a two-run fourth. The rally was aided by a pair of errors on one play by Houston rookie third baseman Alex Bregman with two outs.

With the Astros trailing 4-0 in the bottom half, Jose Altuve hammered the first pitch he saw from Archer for his 21st home run, a two-run shot. Houston has hit 18 homers in the last 10 games.

Jason Castro cut it to 4-3 with an RBI single.

Tampa Bay broke it open in the eighth, when Duffy and Dickerson combined to drive in five runs on a pair of homers.

Franklin joined the party in the ninth with a solo shot to right. He has four home runs in his last 28 at-bats.

Houston's bullpen gave up six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rays: OF Mikie Mahtook was optioned to Triple-A Durham, and RHP Steve Geltz was called up. . LHP Blake Snell (left lower leg bruise) feels good and is expected to make his next start after leaving Saturday's game. ... RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) was to meet the team in Boston on Sunday night.

Astros: RHP Luke Gregerson (left ankle) remained unavailable, but manager A.J. Hinch said the team will try to get Gregerson into a game against Oakland this week. . A determination will be made on Monday after a workout if OF Colby Rasmus (cyst in right ear) will need a rehab assignment or will be activated.

UP NEXT

Rays: RHP Matt Andriese (6-5, 3.71 ERA) starts against Boston on Monday. He has gone 0-5 with a 4.60 ERA in his last 13 appearances, including six starts.

Astros: RHP Joe Musgrove (1-2, 5.20) starts against Oakland on Monday. Musgrove has given up 13 runs in his past two starts after allowing just three in his first two major league starts.