Rays meet Astros in matchup of playoff teams

While the Tampa Bay Rays never did run down the New York Yankees in the American League East, they did shave 12 games off what once was a 15 1/2-game deficit with a road win on Sept. 9.

That perseverance paid dividends on Friday when the Rays defeated the Houston Astros 7-3 to earn their fourthconsecutive postseason berth.

Game 2 in the three-game series will be Saturday night at Houston.

Tampa Bay (86-71) is still vyi