Astros lose a back and forth game to the Rangers

Astros daily report: Rangers 6, Astros 4

Chris Campise
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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Houston's magic number stays at 2

Astros drop series finale to Mariners after rough start by Greinke

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

With their magic number at 2 to secure their spot in the 2020 MLB postseason, the Astros returned to T-Mobile Park in Seattle for this three-game series' finale and rubber game. Here are the highlights from the game:

Final Score: Mariners 3, Astros 2.

Record: 28-28, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Nick Margevicius (2-3, 4.57 ERA)

Losing pitcher: Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03 ERA).

Greinke unable to complete five innings

While the Astros were being held scoreless, the Mariners were putting up runs on Zack Greinke. They took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles followed by an RBI-double with one out. Greinke would stop the damage there, then looked to settle in over the next few frames.

He allowed just one baserunner in the second through fourth innings, a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth. Then, in the fifth, the Mariners would knock him out of the game by getting a one-out single that would come around to score on a two-out RBI-double, followed by an RBI-single to extend the lead to 3-0. Greinke faced one more batter, allowing a single before Dusty Baker would take the ball and move to the bullpen. His final line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR, 92 P.

Astros try a late rally, come up short

On the other end, the Astros were unable to break through against Nick Margevicius, getting just one hit and two walks through the first four innings. They had a chance to get on the board in the top of the fifth, starting the inning with back-to-back singles before a walk loaded the bases with one out to turn the lineup over. They'd come up empty, though, with George Springer striking out before a long flyball to center by Jose Altuve to end the inning.

After finishing the fifth for Greinke, Andre Scrubb returned for a scoreless sixth, working around a one-out walk. Still 3-0, Blake Taylor took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh, erasing a leadoff single and two-out walk to keep Seattle from extending their lead. Houston had another chance to score in the top of the eighth, getting two runners in scoring position, but again would strand them.

Cy Sneed was the next reliever out for the Astros, working around a two-out walk to send the game on to the ninth. The Astros would avoid the shutout, getting a two-RBI single by pinch-hitting Josh Reddick in the top of the ninth to make it a one-run game at 3-2. That's as close as they'd come, though, as the Mariners would eventually get the final out to take the series and keep the Astros' magic number stagnant at 2.


Up Next: There is one series left in the regular season for Houston, and it awaits them in Arlington with a four-game series against the Rangers, who are well eliminated from playoff contention. The first of the four games will start at 7:05 PM Central on Thursday with a pitching matchup of Lance Lynn (6-2, 2.53 ERA) for Texas and Cristian Javier (4-2, 3.33 ERA) for the Astros.

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