Cole, Astros have no room for error left in ALDS vs Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Zack Greinke got hit hard. So did Justin Verlander. And all of a sudden, the Houston Astros and their heavyweight rotation have only one chance left to knock out the pesky Rays.

It's up to Gerrit Cole in Game 5.

Verlander gave up three first-inning runs while pitching on short rest and the Astros lost 4-1 to Tampa Bay on Tuesday night, tying their AL Division Series at two games apiece.

The playoff will be decided Thursday night in Houston, with the winner advancing to face the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series.

It wasn't supposed to be this difficult for the Astros, who led the majors with 107 wins and captured their third consecutive AL West title. Seeking a second World Series championship in three years, they dominated the wild-card Rays behind the brilliant pitching of Verlander and Cole during the first two games at home.

But once they arrived at quirky Tropicana Field, they didn't look like themselves.

And now, even with all those aces, there's no more margin for error.

Verlander threw seven shutout innings of one-hit ball last Friday in a Game 1 victory. But in his first career start on three days' rest following a full outing the previous time out, the Rays chased the Cy Young Award contender with two outs in the fourth and a 4-0 lead Tuesday.

Verlander's dud followed Greinke's early hook in Monday's 10-3 loss. Greinke exited after giving up three homers and six runs in 3 2/3 innings.

So after two surprising subpar outings by the rotation, a third straight trip to the ALCS rests on the shoulders of Cole, who is coming off a stellar 15-strikeout performance over 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a Game 2 win Saturday. He will be on regular rest.

But it's been more than pitching that's derailed the Astros: A high-powered...

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