Tell you what—Runelvys Hernandez is a large human being. The Astros’ burgundy (or whatever color that is) uniforms don’t do him any favors, either.

The Rays got one off Runelvys in the bottom of the first but should have had more. Their first three batters reached base, with Zobrist coming around to score on a laser off the left-field wall by Upton. It was hit so hard Crawford didn’t have a chance to score from first, which he might have been able to do otherwise. After that, the Rays bogged down and couldn’t push another run across as Navarro grounded into a force with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Navarro was essentially reponsible for the run the Astros scored in the top of the first. His two-base throwing error, trying to pick off Jose Cruz Jr. at first base, led to a run on a Hunter Pence sac fly. It was 1-1 after one, and Jason Hammel shut the ‘stros down 1-2-3 in the second.

Updating, 1:43 After Chris Richard flied to right to open the bottom of the second, hard-hitting Andy Cannizaro singled up the middle. Zobrist followed with a walk and CC went down swinging. Two more LOB for the Rays as Upton takes a called third.

Updating, 1:55 The legendary Tomas Perez doubles to open the third against Hammel. There is action in the bullpen in the form of Dan Wheeler. Quintero nubs one toward third and a charging Aybar just misses him. It’s an infield hit and runners are on the corners with nobody out. Bourn with a high chop back to the mound. Hammel looks the runner at third back and just gets the speedy leadoff man at first as Quintero moves up. Cruz follows with a hard grounder up the middle that Cannizaro gets a glove on but can’t handle. It’s scored a hit and Perez scores to make it 2-1. Pence fouls to first. Every ball hit this inning has reached the glove of an infielder, I believe. Even Perez’s double scraped Richard’s glove at first as he made a diving attempt. And there you go—Blum pops to center to end the inning. Zobrist had called for the ball but Upton reached over his head to grab it. All in all a solid outing by Hammel.

Updating, 2:00 Floyd leads it off with a single to right. Not that the Round Mound of Runelvys is Josh Beckett or anything, but Floyd can hit a little bit. Gomes flies to the track in center. Apparently Delmon has homered for the Twins over at Legends Field today. That’s it for Run-HER. Stephen Randolph on with one on and one out in the third.

Updating, 2:13 Randolph starts it out by walking Aybar. Navarro grounds to Wiggy, moving the runners up 90 feet on the second out. Richard walks to load them up again. And once again they’re stranded as Cannizaro grounds to Wiggy for a force. Dan Wheeler coming on to pitch the fourth for the Rays.

Updating, 2:20 And Wheeler is greeted by the man traded to Houston to acquire him—Wigginton. He grounds to Aybar, quick and easy. Diaz up next clocks one over Upton’s head to straightaway center for a double. Niekro flies to center and Perez pops foul to Navarro to end the inning.

Updating, 2:30 Zobrist grounds to first and Crawford follows with a ball in a similar spot, but the low-and-behind throw handcuffs the covering pitcher, who would’ve gotten CC if he’d held onto it. That’ll be an E3. And here’s a bizarre play for the ages. Upton lifts one to left that Diaz misjudges and it rolls to the wall. Crawford burns around toward home, trying to beat the relay. Told to slide by on-deck hitter Floyd, CC instead barrels into Quintero and the ball goes skidding toward the Rays dugout. Upton, still running, decides to come all the way around and makes it before the throw gets back to the covering pitcher. I have no idea how to score that play but it’s 3-2 Rays.

Updating, 2:32 Floyd grounds to first and Gomes flies to center to end the inning. The previous play, by the way, was scored a double by Upton, who advanced to third on the throw home and scored on an E2. Gary Glover now pitching for the Rays.

Updating, 2:42 Quintero with a leadoff walk and Bourn follows by popping out foul to Aybar. Cruz singles to right to put men on first and second. Pence flies to center, moving Quintero up to third with two out. Blum grounds to second to end the inning.

Updating, 2:47 Pair of groundouts to the left side by Aybar and Navarro to open the inning and Richard goes down swinging. That was quick. Scott Dohmann coming in and we’re headed down to talk to Hammel.

Updating, 3:15 Obviously something happened while we were gone, as it’s 6-4 Astros going to the top of the seventh. But enough about that. Let’s talk about The Play.

The reason Crawford went after Quintero in the fourth rather than sliding was that Upton had dropped his bat directly on the plate and no one bothered to move it. Crawford didn’t want to risk injury by sliding into it, so he decided to stay upright.

“The bat was on the right side and that’s where I was about to slide,” said Crawford. “He was kind of up the line, more so than where a catcher usually stands, so I didn’t really have too much of a choice.”

Floyd probably had the best view in the house, standing a few feet behind the plate urging Crawford to get down.

“He didn’t really hit him that hard,” Floyd said. “[Quintero has] probably had balls fouled off him harder than that – nothing against C.C. [Quintero’s] a pretty big dude.”

Floyd said he was just glad Crawford didn’t get hurt.

“That’s our star,” he said. “You don’t want him doing nothing that’s going to hurt him for the season. But he’s played football before, so he probably just wanted to get a good licking in.”

Upton said he saw the whole thing unfold in front of him and he was “gone” for home as soon as the ball kicked away from Quintero. He appreciated the message Crawford’s hit delivered.

“We’re just trying to set the tone early,” said Upton. “We’re trying to do some things different this year and I think we’re just kind of letting guys know that we’re serious about the season.”