St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Carlos Lee's two-run home run in the sixth inning proved to be the difference as Houston edged Tampa Bay, 3-2, in the rubber match of a three-game interleague set.

It was the first time since April 18-20 that the Rays were on the losing end of a series at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay, which is 30-13 at home, had taken nine straight series in Florida.

Hunter Pence also homered for the Astros, who won for just the second time in 11 games.

Brandon Backe (5-8) allowed two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Wesley Wright, Chris Sampson, Doug Brocail and Jose Valverde combined to finish things from there.

"I was just trying to get them to hit my pitch early and just try to get them out," Backe said.

Evan Longoria had a two-run home run for the Rays, who managed just six hits in the game.

"We absolutely pitched well enough to win but we couldn't do anything offensively," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

Scott Kazmir (6-3) surrendered three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings en route to the loss. The left-hander walked two and fanned seven.

Trailing 2-0, Houston finally got to Kazmir in the fifth when Pence, who gunned down Dioner Navarro at the plate to end the previous inning, led off the frame by crushing a hanging slider for his 10th homer of the season.

The Astros finally went on top in the sixth after Miguel Tejada worked a one- out walk and Lee deposited a 2-2 Kazmir fastball into the left field stands to make it a 3-2 game.

Tampa bay failed to muster a hit off the Astros bullpen and Valverde closed it with a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 18th save.

"We got a big base hit from Carlos (Lee), a home run. (Backe) pitched an outstanding game and that's what we need to do," Astros manager Cecil Cooper said. "I thought the bullpen came in and just made pitch after pitch and got us to the big boy -- Valverde."

The Rays jumped on top with a pair of runs in the second. Eric Hinske led off the frame by drawing a walk and Longoria followed by belting his 12th home run of the year over the wall in center.