Smyly turns his start to keep Rays in game

HOUSTON — Drew Smyly finished strong after a tough beginning on Friday night. Unfortunately for the Rays, the left-hander’s good work went for naught in a 5-4 loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Smyly wasn’t sharp in the first, but a sloppy play by first baseman Brad Miller did not help the pitcher’s cause, eiither.

Jose Altuve’s fielder’s choice drove home George Springer to put the Astros up 1-0. Then, when Smyly threw to first to hold on Altuve, Miller could not hang on to the ball. Altuve scampered to second base and when Miller soft-tossed the ball back to Smyly, Altuve alertly raced to third. He scored on a single by Evan Gattis.

“Drew didn’t have the best first inning,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We didn’t help him out. Uncharacteristic play, allowed a couple of runs. But Drew at the same time wasn’t very sharp. And then he dialed it up pretty good.”

Jake Marisnick homered off Smyly in the second, marking the 27th homer surrendered by Smyly this season. Since 2015, he has …

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