Hunter Brown first to 8 wins after allowing 1 hit in 6 innings as Astros beat Rays 1-0
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, left, and center fielder Jacob Melton celebrate after winning a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, runs after umpire Vic Carapazza, left, after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, is held back after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz, left, for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz grounds out during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz grounds out during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, left, and center fielder Jacob Melton celebrate after winning a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, runs after umpire Vic Carapazza, left, after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, is held back after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz, left, for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz grounds out during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
HOUSTON (AP) — Hunter Brown allowed one hit in six innings to become the first eight-game winner in the majors, and the Houston Astros edged the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 on Sunday to split a four-game series.
Josh Hader earned his 15th save for the Astros, who scored an unearned run in the first. Jeremy Peña reached on a fielding error by third baseman Junior Caminero and scored on Christian Walker's two-out single off Taj Bradley (4-5).
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Houston reliever Bryan King retired two batters and permitted the only other Tampa Bay hit. Bryan Abreu got four outs to set up Hader.
Brown (8-3) didn't give up a hit until Josh Lowe singled to left field leading off the sixth. The right-hander then struck Brandon Lowe before ending his outing with a double play.
The Rays (30-29) outscored the Astros 29-6 in their two wins. Houston (32-27) outscored Tampa Bay 3-1 in its two wins.
Tampa Bay's Taylor Walls was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Nic Lentz with one out in the ninth. Christopher Morel finished the at-bat and struck out. Hader fanned Caminero to end it and hasn't blown a save this season.
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Jacob Melton made his big league debut for the Astros, beating out a grounder to second for his first hit after looking at a called third strike his first time up. He started in center field and finished 1 for 3.
Key moment
Already trailing, Bradley had runners at the corners with nobody out in the third. But he struck out Isaac Paredes swinging, got Jose Altuve to pop out and struck out Walker looking to escape unscathed.
Key stat
Brown has a 1.83 ERA in 13 starts — fifth-lowest in the majors.
Up next
Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (4-4, 2.33 ERA) starts Tuesday against Rangers RHP Tyler Mahle (5-2, 1.64) to begin a six-game homestand.
Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (0-1, 5.89 ERA) pitches Tuesday against Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (4-5, 2.15) to begin a six-game trip.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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