Astros hand Rays their first loss at home

ST. PETERSBURG — Luis Garcia had three hits in six innings and the Houston Astros ended the Tampa Bay Rays’ 14-game winning streak at home to open the season by blanking them 5-0 Tuesday.

Only three teams have managed to get off to a better start at home than the Rays, at 20-4.

The Chicago White Stockings, forerunners of the Cubs, hold the record, with 21 straight wins in 1880. The 1886 Detroit Wolverines had 18 wins, while the 1884 St. Louis Maroons won 16 in a row, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Just 9,916 fans turned out for the game between the Rays, owners of the best record in Major League Baseball, and the Astros, defending World Series champions, at Tropicana Field.

Garcia (2-2) struck out seven, walked two and barely allowed a runner into scoring position. The Venezuelan right-hander was coming off a start last Wednesday in which he allowed two hits while hanging seven shutouts in an 8-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

For the Astros, Honduran Mauricio Dubón 5-2, one scored. The Dominican Jeremy Peña 4-2, a run scored and an RBI. Cuban José Abreu 4-1, one scored and one towed. Puerto Rican Martín Maldonado 3-0.

For the Rays, the Dominicans Wander Franco 4-1; and Francisco Mejía 3-0. Cubans Randy Arozarena 4-1; and Yandy Diaz 3-1. The Mexican Isaac Paredes 4-0.