The Rays closed out the symbolic first half of the season Sunday, with their sixth consecutive series win thanks to an outstanding 5-0 complete game shutout by Chris Archer — The first complete game of his career. Tampa Bay ended its 10-game home-stand with a franchise best 9-1 record, now sitting a mere two-and-a-half games behind the first place Red Sox following a pair of losses. You can read a blow by blow account of the game at the X-Rays Spex Tumblr page.

In short, King Archer was incredible. Allowing only five hits, the Rays righty struck out eight and did not walk a batter for the second consecutive game. Hell, Archer only had two three-ball counts — one in the fourth inning and one in the seventh. In both cases Archer threw filthy change-ups, wringing up Pena and Wallace (respectively). Following in the footsteps of David Price, Archer was pitch efficient, averaging just under 13 pitches per inning. Archer joins James Shields as the only Rays pitcher to throw a complete game shutout with at least eight strikeouts and no walks.

“It meant a lot because my past couple games I felt strong, strong enough to continue to pitch deep in the ballgame,” said Archer. “But really, I’ve never pitched into the eighth inning before in my career—major league, minor league, Little League, whatever…It was cool. They had faith in me to go deep. We scored enough runs so that there was no question. We played tremendous defense which saved me pitches and I was able to execute. This is the best game I’ve ever pitched in my life so it means everything.”

He is a 3-0 in his last five starts, posting a 1.68 ERA with 21 strikeouts, while allowing 21 hits and just seven walks.

Offensively speaking, the Rays hitters were able to hand Archer a five run cushion. Showing signs that he may be coming out of his slump, Evan Longoria got things started early by hitting a two-out two run double, scoring Desmond Jennings from first base. Longoria now sits in second place on the Rays all-time extra base hits list with 341, second only to Carl Crawford.

Tampa Bay extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kelly Johnson (3-4, 2 R) lead off the inning with a base hit. Johnson was moved to second on a bunt base hit by Jose Lobaton, but then came around to score thanks to an overthrow by Erik Bedard (Altuve wasn’t covering first), moving Lobi to second. Lobaton moved to third on a Yunel Escobar single, and came in to score on a double play ground out by Desmond Jennings.

Jennings capped off the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning, blasting a two-run homer (11) 417 feet to left-center off Astros reliever Paul Clemens.

The Rays will start a 10-game road trip in Toronto Friday following the All-Star Break. They’ll play three games against the Blue Jays, followed by a four-game set Boston, culminating in a three-game series in New York prior to returning home July 30th.

Noteworthiness

Originally charged with an error on a J.D. Martinez ground ball in the top of the second inning, Yunel Escobar’s errorless streak continues after the official scorer changed to ruling to a hit. Escobar has now tied the franchise record for errorless games by a shortstop with Chris Gomez at 52 consecutive games.



Ben Zobrist and Matt Moore were awarded their All-Star jerseys prior to Sunday’s game: