ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays had to survive a scare in the ninth from closer Alex Colome but a strong performance from first baseman Steve Pearce was good enough.

Pearce went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lift the Rays to a 4-3 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.

The Tampa Bay bullpen of Erasmo Ramirez, Xaiver Cedeno and Colome combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings to hold off Houston.

With the Astros trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning, they loaded the bases against Rays reliever Alex Colome.

Colome walked pinch-hitter Tony Kemp before striking out George Springer and giving up a single to Marwin Gonzalez that sent Kemp to third. Gonzalez advanced to second on the throw to third and was originally called out, but it was changed to safe after a video review.

Colome intentionally walked Jose Altuve to load the bases with one out but struck out Colby Rasmus and retired Evan Gattis on a grounder to short.

"Awesome win to start the homestand," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "It got a little exciting in the later innings for sure. The bullpen, however, comes in and just did a phenomenal job to keep it there with a 4-3 lead."

Houston scored three runs in the sixth on an RBI single from Tyler White and a two-run homer from Jason Castro that chased Rays starter Matt Andriese.

"It was definitely a battle today," Andriese said. "Didn't have the command I usually do but to come out on top is all we're looking for."

Pearce hit a two-run double in the first off Astros starter Lance McCullers to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. Pearce also had a double in the third inning.

"I'm not trying to do too much out there," Pearce said. "Just hit the ball wherever it's pitched. Hopefully I can stay in there and keep the momentum going."

Tampa Bay added two runs in the second when Logan Forsythe ripped a double down the left-field line that scored Brandon Jennings.

"The offense was good, we got out to an early lead on a very good pitcher," Cash said. "Guys were having good at-bats, putting some balls in the gaps, so that was outstanding to see."

Shortstop Brad Miller followed with a single off the glove of White at third as Forsythe scored to give Tampa Bay a 4-0 lead.

"I can't be giving up four runs in the first two innings," McCullers said. "It's ridiculous. And with their staff and that bullpen it's hard to come back from that."

Houston put runners on base in each of the first four innings against Andriese but could not score.

In the third, the Astros got singles from Gonzalez, Altuve and Rasmus to load the bases, but Gattis flied out to center.

"We loaded the bases with two outs and couldn't scratch a run across," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Two-out hits for them proved to be the difference in the game. We had quite a few opportunities. We left seven or eight guys on with Andriese but we kept fighting."

NOTES: Astros SS Carlos Correa was available to pinch hit in Friday's game but remains day-to-day with a left ankle sprain. "I feel a lot better," Correa said. "I had (ice) treatment all day." Hinch gave Correa the day off after saying he was due for a game off soon. ... Rays 2B Logan Forsythe went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI in his return to the lineup in the leadoff position after missing the past 29 games with a hairline fracture in the shoulder. Rays INF Nick Franklin was sent down to Triple-A Durham. ... Astros RHP Lance McCullers, who is from Tampa, has now lost his only two starts against the Rays. ... With RHP Matt Andriese starting, Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to skip LHP Drew Smyly in the rotation.