McCullers (9-3) allowed three hits, all singles, and two walks. Marisnick clubbed his seventh homer to left field off Rays left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (7-4) with one out in the fifth inning. Marisnick finished 2-for-2 with a walk.

Astros right-hander Chris Devenski pitched out of a jam in the eighth inning. Following a leadoff double by Rays shortstop Willy Adames and a bunt single from center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, Devenski induced a line-drive double play from Matt Duffy, with shortstop Marwin Gonzalez making the catch before doubling off Kiermaier, who was on the move with the pitch, at first.

Devenski then got an inning-ending groundout from Jake Bauers, stranding Adames at third.

Astros closer Hector Rondon earned his fifth save by striking out the side in the ninth inning.

McCullers surrendered his first hit with two outs in the third with Adames lining a single to center. McCullers followed by retiring five consecutive batters and, after hitting C.J. Cron with a pitch with one out in the fifth, McCullers fanned Mallex Smith and Carlos Gomez to close that frame.

An inning later, McCullers encountered a more serious threat to his shutout performance.

With two outs and the Astros clinging to a one-run lead, McCullers allowed an opposite-field single to Duffy before issuing a walk to Bauers. After falling behind in the count 3-1 to slugging Rays catcher Wilson Ramos, McCullers rallied to record a strikeout and preserve the shutout. With Smith on second base and two outs in the seventh, McCullers punched out Gomez on three pitches to complete his outing at 101 pitches.

McCullers recorded seven strikeouts, including 17 swings-and-misses on his curveball.

Yarbrough allowed seven hits and one walk while producing four strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. He entered after reliever Ryne Stanek started the game with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Rays had their eight-game home winning streak snapped.

--Field Level Media