Astros lose a back and forth game to the Rangers
Astros daily report: Rangers 6, Astros 4
Apr 2, 2019, 10:33 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
The Astros faced the Rangers for game two of three on Tuesday night. Here's a quick recap:
Final Score: Rangers 6, Astros 4
Record: 2-4, fourth in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Shawn Kelley (2-0).
Losing pitcher: Framber Valdez (0-1).
Star of the game: Carlos Correa looked as healthy as ever in this game, providing some bright spots in the disappointing loss. Correa saved a run in the top of the first, laying out for a ball and throwing it to first just in time for the third out. He also worked a walk at the plate along with a big RBI-double which at the time tied the game.
Notes: George Springer helped Houston get ahead early for the second straight night, starting the game with a single before moving to second on a walk, stealing third, then scoring on an RBI groundout by Michael Brantley. Springer would strike again with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, extending the lead to 2-0. The Rangers took advantage of Justin Verlander missing his spots in the bottom of the second, tying the game on a two-run home run. After getting two on with no outs in the top of the fifth, Tony Kemp would convert one run with an RBI-groundout to give the Astros the lead back at 3-2. After a strong fourth inning, Verlander got roughed up again in the bottom of the fifth, giving up two runs on three hits and a hit batter all before getting an out in the inning, prompting the end of his night, leaving the game with his team down 4-3. Will Harris came out of the bullpen and did a great job to get out of the mess he inherited, keeping it a one-run game. Carlos Correa came through to tie the game with an RBI-double in the next inning, but the Rangers would go back in front off of Framber Valdez with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. The 6-4 score would go final to even the series.
Up next: Houston will play the rubber match to try and win the series tomorrow night with another 7:05 PM first pitch. Gerrit Cole will be on the mound for Houston and will try to even his record at 1-1 with a win, while Mike Minor will try to do the same on the bump for the Rangers.
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Astros keep doing this, and it’s getting hard to ignore
Jun 25, 2025, 10:01 pm
While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.
The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.
Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.
As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.
The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.
VanVleet signs extension
Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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