Astros take game 1 from Rangers
Astros daily report: Astros 2, Rangers 1
Apr 1, 2019, 9:46 pm
Astros take game 1 from Rangers
The Astros started a three-game series with the Rangers in Arlington tonight. Here's how game one shook out:
Final Score: Astros 2, Rangers 1
Record: 2-3, fourth in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Brad Peacock (1-0).
Losing pitcher: Adrian Sampson (0-1).
Star of the game: Brad Peacock made a big impact in his return to the starting rotation, throwing about as efficient and effective of a game as he could. Peacock went six and two-thirds innings, giving up just one run on two hits with five strikeouts on 86 pitches in his 2019 debut.
Notes: George Springer wasted no time, starting the game off with a leadoff solo home run to put the Astros up 1-0 before Drew Smyly could record an out. They stranded a few runners in the following innings, setting up the Rangers to tie the game with a solo homer of their own in the bottom of the third. Robinson Chirinos, in his return to Globe Life Park, broke the tie in the top of the sixth, driving in Carlos Correa on an RBI-double to put Houston ahead 2-1. A.J. Hinch pulled Peacock two outs into the seventh, going to Ryan Pressly to get the final out of that inning. Pressly would continue on in the eighth, keeping the 2-1 lead intact for Roberto Osuna who closed things out in the ninth for his first save of the year.
Up next: Game two of this three-game series will get underway at 7:05 PM tomorrow night. Justin Verlander will get his second start of the season for the Astros, while the Rangers will send out newly signed Shelby Miller for his first start with his new team.
Veteran outfielder Jason Heyward and the San Diego Padres finalized a $1 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.
Heyward can earn $250,000 in performance bonuses: $50,000 each for 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 plate appearances.
The 35-year-old spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros, batting .211 with 10 home runs and 37 RBIs in 87 games. He was 5 for 10 with two homers, a triple and seven RBIs as a pinch hitter.
A five-time Gold Glove winner, Heyward has a .256 career batting average with 184 homers, 718 RBIs, 125 stolen bases and a .748 OPS in 15 major league seasons with the Atlanta Braves (2010-14), St. Louis Cardinals (2015), Chicago Cubs (2016-2022), Dodgers (2023-24) and Astros (2024).
He helped the Cubs win the 2016 World Series and was an All-Star in 2010, when he finished second in NL Rookie of the Year balloting.
He had a $9 million salary last year in his deal with the Dodgers, who released him on Aug. 24. He signed with the Astros four days later.