Houston Astros fans gloat as team ends Tampa Bay Rays’ home winning streak with a shutout win: "All fun and games until you play with the big dogs"

On Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, the Houston Astros defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0, thanks to a sterling performance from pitcher Luis Garcia. The loss ended the Rays' impressive streak of 14 consecutive home victories to open the 2023 season.

Garcia pitched six shutout innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven, marking his second consecutive scoreless outing.

Astros fans were quick to mock the Rays supporters with the classic "you finally played a real team" taunt, despite Tampa Bay winning 8-3 in the series opener on Monday.

@astros @AirNatlGuard All fun and games until you play with the big dogs

@astros MY CLIENT THE HOUSTON ASTROS CONQUERED THE STREAK
MY CLIENT THE HOUSTON ASTROS CONQUERED THE STREAK
MY CLIENT THE HOUSTON ASTROS CONQUERED THE STREAK

MY CLIENT
THE HOUSTON ASTROS
CONQUERED
THE TAMPA BAT RAYS UNDEFEATED STREAK AT TROPICANA FIELD https://t.co/p0aymP0ueN

@astros @AirNatlGuard They finally played real team and what do
you know the rays lost there fraud streak 🤣

The Rays' impressive start to the season had seen them claim 14 consecutive victories at Tropicana Field, the second-longest home win streak to start a season in MLB history. They were closing in on the all-time record of 15 straight home wins to start a season, set by the 1907 New York Giants, before the Astros' victory on Tuesday.

For the second consecutive game, the Rays failed to hit a home run, although they still hold the best record in the major leagues at 20-4.

@TalkinBaseball_ Exposed by a real team, how unfortunate

@astros @AirNatlGuard Put that fire 🔥 out

@TalkinBaseball_ will they ever score again

What made the Astros' victory even more impressive was that they achieved it without some of their key players in the lineup. Among the team's big hitters in Tuesday's contest were under-the-radar threats in Corey Julks, Mauricio Dubon, and Jake Meyers.

@astros @AirNatlGuard I really like you guys a whole heck of a lot.

@astros @AirNatlGuard Broke those boys without half our squad. MLB is cooked. 🤣🤣

@astros @AirNatlGuard Nice win, now let’s win the series tomorrow 🙌🏻

While the defeat was disappointing for the Rays, it was highly unlikely that the team would go 81-0 at Tropicana Field. With the Baltimore Orioles also losing to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, Tampa Bay still has a 4.5-game lead in the ultra-competitive American League East.

@RaysBaseball @budweiserusa OMG WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ITS OUR 4TH LOSS OF THE SEASON 😰😰 (we’ve played 24 games, it doesnt matter)

Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays play series finale Wednesday

Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros bits in the sixth inning during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays

The Astros and Rays play for the series win at 6:40 pm Wednesday night, as Hunter Brown starts for Houston against Tampa Bay's Calvin Faucher.