Ramos, Rays greet Verlander rudely

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wilson Ramos drove in four runs in the first two innings against Justin Verlander, and the Rays went on to beat the Astros 5-2 on Saturday.

Matt Duffy finished with three hits, including two in the first two innings, to help the Rays win for the seventh time in eight games and move to .500 (41-41) for the first time since June 1.

The Rays have held opponents to two runs or fewer in five straight games for only the second time in franchise history.

Ramos got the Rays on the scoreboard with a two-run double in the first, and he made it 5-0 with a two-run single in the second.

Verlander (9-4) gave up a season-high five runs in a seasonlow five innings, surrendering nine hits while striking out eight. He came into the game with a major-league-leading 1.82 ERA, but it was 4.34 in six June starts. The Astros have lost his last three starts.

Alex Bregman accounted for the Astros’ runs with a two-run homer in the sixth off Vidal Nuno. It was Bregman’s fifth home run in the last six games.

Nuno (2-0) got the win after pitching 4 ⁄ innings of relief, giving up two runs and four hits while striking out four. Sergio Romo pitched the ninth for his seventh save in 11 opportunities.

Ryne Stanek started and threw one inning for the Rays, allowing a single to Jose Altuve, the Astros’ only hit in the first four innings.

Adeiny Hechavarria made a fielding error on George Springer’s ground ball in the top of the sixth just before Bregman’s home run. It ended a streak of 94 games and 319 chances in which the Rays shortstop had not committed an error, the longest errorless streak in franchise history for a shortstop.