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Rodney Page’s takeaways from Sunday’s Rays-Astros game

Three takeaways
 
Published July 1, 2018

Mallex Smith doesn't hit many home runs. He only has had one since July of last season. But it sure was a big one Sunday. His two-out solo homer in the eighth gave the Rays much-needed insurance in their 3-2 win.

Blake Snell is a bona fide ace. He hasn't given up more than one run in 11 straight home starts, and he won his 11th game of the season. More impressively, he talked about the need to get better after the game.

Relievers Diego Castillo and Sergio Romo sure did earn their money Sunday. Castillo came in with the bases loaded in the eighth and got Jose Altuve and Yuli Gurriel to end the inning. Then Romo, after giving up a homer in the ninth, still got the save. Nerves of steel.