Astros unable to rebound from Gerrit Cole's horrible start
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: Rangers 9, Astros 4
Apr 20, 2019, 9:58 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After taking the series opener on Friday night, the Astros looked to take game two from the Rangers on Saturday night to lock up another series win. Here's a quick rundown of the game:
Final Score: Rangers 9, Astros 4
Record: 13-7, second in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Shawn Kelley (3-0).
Losing pitcher: Gerrit Cole (1-3).
Stars of the game: In an otherwise disappointing game, Max Stassi and George Springer were able to provide some highlights, both hitting two-run home runs to try and keep Houston in the game.
Notes: The Rangers got on the board first on Saturday night, getting a huge inning off of Gerrit Cole who had a horrible start to his night, allowing five runs, one of which was unearned, on four hits and two walks which paired with some sloppy defense handed Texas a quick 5-0 lead. They wouldn't let up on Cole there, extending the lead to 6-0 on a solo home run in the bottom of the third. Houston finally broke through with a good inning of their own, getting a two-run home run from Max Stassi in the top of the fifth to trim the lead to 6-2. The Rangers extended it right back, though, getting another run off of Cole in the bottom of the fifth, making it 7-2 before Houston would finally dip into their bullpen, bringing in Chris Devenski. Devenski would also fall victim to the Rangers, allowing a two-RBI triple to make it 9-2 and bring Cole's earned run total to eight on the night, making it the worst start of his major league career. George Springer got Houston back within five runs with a two-run home run to straight center in the top of the seventh, making it 9-4. That's as close as the Astros would get, though, as that score would go final to even the series at one game apiece.
Up Next: Houston will wrap up this series against the Rangers tomorrow afternoon with first pitch of the rubber-match game at 2:05 PM. Collin McHugh (3-1, 1.96 ERA) will start for the Astros and will go up against Shelby Miller (0-1, 9.00 ERA) for the Rangers.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
Gunnar Henderson and Luis Vázquez homered and Trevor Rogers worked seven strong innings as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Houston Astros 3-2 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.
Rogers (7-2) allowed five hits and three walks and struck out nine. The 27-year-old left-hander moved past two Hall of Famers with his 1.40 ERA through the first 13 starts of a season. Hoyt Wilhelm set the club record with a 1.50 ERA in 1959, and was followed by Jim Palmer’s 1.55 ERA in 1975.Keegan Akin struck out three in 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his third save.
Henderson hit his 16th homer, a solo shot off Spencer Arrighetti (1-5) in the first, to give Baltimore the lead. Ryan Mountcastle had an RBI single in the sixth and Vázquez made it 3-1 in the seventh with his first big league homer.
Arrighetti gave up two runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. John Rooney relieved Arrighetti in his debut and allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings. Craig Kimbrel struck out two in a scoreless inning in his first game with the Astros.
Jeremy Peña had an RBI single in the third and Victor Caratini drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth for Houston.
Key moment
Akin entered with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh and allowed only the sac fly to preserve the lead.
Key stat
Arrighetti retired 15 batters in a row following his four-hit first inning.
Up next
Tomoyuki Sugano (10-5, 3.97) gets the start for the Orioles in a home series opener against the Red Sox on Monday.
The Astros turn to Hunter Brown (10-5, 2.36) to lead off a series against the Rockies on Tuesday.