Luis Garcia, Astros stop Rays' 14-game home winning streak

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Luis Garcia scattered three hits over six innings and the Houston Astros ended the Tampa Bay Rays' 14-game season-opening home winning streak, 5-0 on Tuesday night.

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Only three teams had a longer run than the Rays, who are 20-4 overall.

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"It was a little weird," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said of the first home loss. "Walking in there [the clubhouse] with no music or anything like that, but I'm guessing they'll get the music back on soon."

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The 1880 Chicago White Stockings, who became the Cubs, hold the MLB record for the longest season-opening home streak with 21. The 1886 Detroit Wolverines had an 18-game stretch, while the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association won 16 in a row, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

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The announced crowd for the game between the MLB-best Rays and the defending World Series champion Astros (13-11) at Tropicana Field was just 9,916.

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Garcia (2-2) struck out seven, walked two and allowed just one runner to reach scoring position. The right-hander was coming off a start last Wednesday in which he gave up two hits over seven shutout innings in an 8-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

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"Garcia, he was great, especially against a hot team and a very good offensive team," Houston manager Dusty Baker said. "He had command of every pitch."

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Tampa Bay entered the game outscoring its opponents 157-64. The Rays were held homerless for the second consecutive game after going deep 48 times during an MLB-record 22 straight to begin a season.

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It was the first time the Rays have been shut out this season.

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Phil Maton, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined to finish a five-hitter.

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