ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Thanks to a quirk of the schedule, the Rays’ first meeting of the season included champagne showers for the visitors.
In beating the Rays 4-0 Monday, the Astros celebrated clinching the American League West division title for the fifth time in six years.
And provided a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for the Rays, whose bid to secure one of the three American League wild-card playoff berths, and potentially face the Astros (97-51) for higher stakes later in October, stalled with the loss.
