Blake Snell and the surging Tampa Bay Rays are having success against some of the major’s best teams.

Snell struck out 10 [url=http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/eli-manning-jersey]http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/eli-manning-jersey[/url] , reliever Diego Castillo fanned Jose Altuve in a key spot and the Rays wrapped up an impressive homestand by beating the Houston Astros 3-2 Sunday.

The Rays went 8-1 at Tropicana Field, taking three of four from the World Series champion Astros, sweeping three from the New York Yankees and winning both games against Washington. Tampa Bay set a team record by allowing no more than two runs in its sixth straight game.

”Everybody’s doing their part,” Snell said.

Snell tied Hall of Famer Walter Johnson (1914) with his 11th consecutive home start allowing one or fewer earned runs for the longest stretch in the AL since 1913, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

”He’s pitched like an All-Star,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. ”We knew we had a chance to have a special series and really special homestand, and I think he capped it off.”

Matt Duffy hit a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning that put the Rays ahead 2-1 and Mallex Smith homered in the eighth.

Evan Gattis homered twice for Houston. The Astros went 0 for 14 during the series with runners in scoring position.

”We didn’t do enough to win the game or win the series.” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

Snell (11-4) allowed one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings. The lefty has given up five earned runs over 51 2/3 innings (0.87 ERA) at home this season.

Castillo replaced Snell with the bases loaded in the eighth with the Rays leading by a run. Castillo struck out Altuve in a 10-pitch at-bat and got a grounder from Yuli Gurriel to protect the lead.

Sergio Romo got his eighth save despite allowing Gattis’ homer in the ninth.

Charlie Morton (10-2) struck out 11 in 6 2/3 innings. The Astros led 1-0 when he left with runners at first and second, and Duffy greeted Chris Devenski with a bloop single down the right-field line. Joey Wendle scored from first base when right fielder Josh Reddick hesitated before throwing the ball back to the infield.

”I just kind of froze,” Reddick said. ”There’s no excuse for screwing that up. I’ve got to get the ball in, and even if I throw it home early, we’re still playing the ball game right now.”

Gattis, who had eight homers and 30 RBIs in June [url=http://www.packerscheapstore.com/marcedes-lewis-jersey-cheap]Marcedes Lewis Youth Jersey[/url] , put the Astros up 1-0 on his seventh-inning drive.

Jake Marisnick had a potential run-scoring extra-base hit tracked down in deep center by Smith with two outs in the fifth.

Smith’s homer was his first since last July 21, ending a 356 at-bat drought.

”I’m not worried about hitting home runs,” the speedy Smith said with a smile. ”I like to steal bases. Can’t steal bases when you hit homers.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Gurriel returned after three days on the paternity list. . Reliever Joe Smith (right elbow soreness) could be back Tuesday.

Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier was rested after making two diving catches Saturday. He dropped to 0 for 9, including eight strikeouts, against Morton by going down swinging as a pinch-hitter in the seventh.

SORE SPRINGER

Astros RF George Springer was out of the lineup for the second time in three days after tumbling into the stands chasing a foul ball Saturday. Hinch said Springer is ”beat up a little bit.” Springer, mired in a 3-for-44 slide, was a pinch-runner in the ninth.

DEADLINE DEALS

The Rays could move veteran players like RHPs Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Archer, and C Wilson Ramos before the non-waiver trade deadline. Also attracting interest is Tampa Bay’s bullpen. ”I imagine our front office will do what they always do, and that’s look to do what’s best for the organization going forward,” Cash said.

The Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals are among the teams with scouts in attendance recently.

UP NEXT

Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (4-8) will go against Texas RHP Austin Bibens-Dirx (1-1) Tuesday night.

Rays: Eovaldi (2-3) faces Miami LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-5) Monday night.

When Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill started his third coaching search in five years, he took a look at their talented roster that is still among the youngest in the NHL.

Their new coach is certainly accustomed to dealing with youth.

Jim Montgomery was introduced Friday by the Stars, becoming the second head coach in three years to go directly from the college ranks to the NHL.

”I think the game is changing, and in the end it’s dealing with people [url=http://www.falconscheapstore.com/isaiah-oliver-jersey-cheap]Isaiah Oliver Falcons Jersey[/url] ,” Nill said. ”It’s dealing with the younger players, and on top of it, winning, and he’s done that.”

Montgomery was 125-57-26 the past five seasons at the University of Denver, including a national title in 2016-17. As a player, he was part of a national championship at Maine in 1993.

”We loved our life in Denver and I loved my job, and the only way I was going to move from a great position was for an opportunity that was better,” said the 48-year-old Montgomery, who has four young children.

Before Denver, he spent three seasons as head coach and general manager for Dubuque of the United States Hockey League. The Fighting Saints were 118-45-21 from 2010-13, when they won two USHL titles.

Montgomery is a departure from the first two hires by Nill, grizzled NHL veterans Lindy Ruff and Ken Hitchcock.

Hitchcock, who coached the Stars to their only Stanley Cup title in 1999 [url=www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/walter-payton-jersey]Walter Payton Bears Jersey[/url] , returned as their coach for only one season before retiring last month and becoming a consultant for the team. The Stars have missed the playoffs eight of the last 10 seasons.

Philadelphia has made the playoffs in two of the three seasons since Dave Hakstol was hired by the Flyers from collegiate power North Dakota.

”Jimmy’s been successful at every level that he’s been at,” Hakstol said. ”He’s a smart guy that he’s going to take what he does and he’s going to take it to the NHL level.”

Montgomery inherits a Dallas squad led by high-scoring forwards Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Benn, a two-time All-Star and team captain who turns 29 this summer, was among those attending Montgomery’s introductory news conference. At 26, Seguin is already a five-time All-Star.

The Stars also have one of the league’s top-scoring defensemen in John Klingberg, and goalie Ben Bishop, who is signed for five more seasons.

”When I look at this lineup, I really get excited,” Montgomery said. ”It has everything you want. It has star power. … You have depth, you have size, you have skill, you have speed at every position.”

The Stars were solidly positioned for the playoffs in March before an eight-game losing streak that started with six losses on the road. Still, Dallas improved significantly in a year [url=http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/connor-williams-jersey]Connor Williams Youth Jersey[/url] , finishing with 92 points under Hitchcock after only 79 in the last of their four seasons with Ruff. The 79 points were the second-fewest in a full season for the team since moving to Dallas in 1993-94.

Montgomery played in 122 career NHL games from 1993-2003, his last nine games coming with the Stars. He also played for St. Louis, Montreal, Philadelphia and San Jose.

”I hope my coaching career is going to last longer,” Montgomery joked.

Only two head coaches had gone directly from college to the NHL before Hakstol and Montgomery.

Ned Harkness was the first, when he went from Cornell to Detroit in 1970 and was 12-22-4 as head coach before becoming the Red Wings GM. Bob Johnson went from Wisconsin to Calgary in 1982 and had a 234-188-58 record in six seasons as an NHL head coach. Johnson team’s made the playoffs in all six of his seasons, five in Calgary and his only season in Pittsburgh for a Stanley Cup title in 1991.

Nill said his final list of 10 candidates includes five veteran coaches and five others who could be given an opportunity as an NHL coach.

”He’s a guy that’s been on our radar screen,” Nill said of Montgomery. ”He had that passion, that fire. He’s built his resume up the right way. It’s about winning, and he’s found a way to do it, and especially a way to do it in today’s game.”

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