St. Petersburg, FL (Best E Casino) - Carlos Lee had two doubles and two runs batted in, as the Houston Astros fought off a late rally by the Rays to edge Tampa Bay, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game set from Tropicana Field.

Lance Berkman and Kazuo Matsui each clubbed an RBI for the Astros, who saw their eight-game slide become history.

Roy Oswalt (6-7) picked up the win as he went 7 2/3 innings and gave up just two runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking two batters. Jose Valverde earned his 17th save of the year despite giving up a home run in the ninth.

"I didn't put too much pressure on myself," Oswalt said. "I was trying to throw a quality start more than anything...I don't remember anyone hitting the ball hard."

Eric Hinske went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI for the Rays, who are still 5-2 in their last seven contests. Dioner Navarro hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth.

Matt Garza (5-4) took the loss as he was touched for four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits. Garza also fanned eight and walked just two batters.

"I thought Garza was really good," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Thought he threw really well, exceptionally well. He had good stuff."

Trailing 4-1, Tampa Bay inched closer in the eighth inning. Akinori Iwamura led off with a single, but Carl Crawford struck out. B.J. Upton moved Iwamura to second on a groundout, and Hinske's single scored the runner.

Valverde tried to close it out for the 'Stros in the ninth and got Willy Aybar to fly out. Navarro, though, connected on a home run just inside the right field foul pole, pulling the Rays within one run. Jason Bartlett grounded out and Iwamura went down swinging to end the threat and the game.

The Astros got on the board in the first inning. Miguel Tejada had a two-out single and Berkman followed with a walk. Lee then doubled to center, scoring both runners, and Houston was up 2-0.

The Rays rallied in the home first, though. Crawford singled with one out and Upton made it first and second with another base hit. Hinske kept it going as he smacked an RBI single up the middle.

Houston added two more runs in the fifth inning. Michael Bourn offered a one- out single and Matsui followed with an RBI double to deep center field. Tejada then smoked a frozen rope down the left field line, which Longoria misplayed, leaving runners on the corners. Berkman brought Matsui home with a sac fly to left, and the Astros were up 4-1.

Game Notes

Prior to Friday's game, the Rays added another element of legitimacy to the league's most surprising start, sweeping the National League pace-setting Chicago Cubs in a three-game set. It marked Tampa Bay's third sweep this season of a first-place team, following previous shutdowns of the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...Houston swept a three-game set from the Rays the last time these teams met back in 2003.