Rays 5, Astros 0: Chris Archer struck out eight over 6 2/3 dominant innings as Tampa Bay defeated visiting Houston in the opener of a four-game series.

Kevin Kiermaier and Evan Longoria belted back-to-back homers while Ryan Hanigan registered two hits, a walk and knocked in a run for the Rays. Archer (4-4) allowed three hits and walked only two in 102 pitches as Tampa Bay beat the Astros for the third time in four games this season.

Jose Altuve recorded a pair of hits for the Astros, who have dropped four straight games. Houston starter Collin McHugh (4-5) gave up two unearned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six to lose for the second straight outing – both against Tampa Bay.

McHugh allowed the first two batters to reach base in the first and third innings before retiring three in a row to escape damage. The Rays capitalized on the same situation in the fourth though with the help of an error, as Yunel Escobar lined an RBI single up the middle and Hanigan’s squeeze bunt made it 2-0.

Hanigan singled to open the seventh and trotted home on Kiermaier’s blast into the right-field seats off Paul Clemens before Longoria took the next pitch into the left-field seats. Brad Boxberger retired one batter in the seventh, Joel Peralta pitched the eighth and Grant Balfour struck out the side in the ninth to complete the Rays’ eighth shutout.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rays placed OF David DeJesus (fractured left hand) on the 15-day disabled list and activated OF Brandon Guyer (fractured thumb), who went 0-for-4 and scored a run. … Altuve pushed his major league-leading total to 98 hits and also stole his 25th and 26th bases. … Tampa Bay 1B James Loney added two hits and Longoria went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games.