Astros start second half with a loss
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 5-0 loss
Jul 11, 2019, 10:10 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After a three-day break from the regular season, the Astros were back in action on Thursday night in Arlington against the Rangers looking to start the second half of the season with a win. Here is a recap of the first game of the four-game series:
Final Score: Rangers 5, Astros 0.
Record: 57-34, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Lance Lynn (12-4, 3.69 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Framber Valdez (3-5, 5.28 ERA).
1) Valdez unable to last a single inning
After the Astros were unable to get on the board in the top of the first, Framber Valdez took the mound to try and provide Houston with a decent start while they await the return of Brad Peacock and continue work towards a possible trade for another reliable starter.
Valdez, who had been optioned back to AAA before the All-Star break, would not shine in his return to the major-league club. Instead, he struggled and would get through just two outs while allowing the Rangers to score four runs on four hits and three walks, putting the Astros in a 4-0 hole.
Chris Devenski would come in and put the long-awaited end to the first inning and would work around a one-out single in the bottom of the second to complete that inning as well.
2) Bregman exits in the third
In the bottom of the third inning, Cy Sneed would make his second appearance of the year to relieve Chris Devenski. He worked in and out of some trouble, allowing a run to make it a 5-0 game, and would load the bases as the Rangers threatened for more, but would leave all three runners stranded with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
During that inning, however, the Astros would experience a scary scene. Alex Bregman lined up to field a chopping ground ball up the middle, but before it reached him, the ball would take a big bounce right into his chin. He was visibly shaken up, resulting in his exit from the game.
3) Lance Lynn dominates
While Framber Valdez struggled in the first inning, it was Lance Lynn on the mound for Texas who was able to dominate Houston's bats. Lynn tossed one of the best starts of his season, shutting out the Astros over seven innings while matching his season-high in strikeouts with eleven.
Sneed was able to wrap his night up with a solid line in relief, getting the Astros through the seventh while maintaining the 5-0 score. Sneed also struck out seven over his five innings, allowing just the one run back in the third in an otherwise great appearance where he ate up some valuable innings for Houston.
Josh James was next out of the bullpen and threw a seven-pitch bottom of the eighth inning. They wouldn't need anyone for the bottom of the ninth, as the Rangers were able to complete the shutout win in the top of the inning, starting Houston's second half of the season with a loss.
Up Next: Game two of this series will be tomorrow at 7:05 PM. The expected pitching matchup is Gerrit Cole (9-5, 3.09 ERA) for the Astros who will try to extend his recent hot streak as he goes up against Jesse Chavez (3-4, 3.30 ERA) for the Rangers.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
How big of an impact will he have? Photo via: Wiki Commons.
Nick Chubb has officially passed his physical and joined the Texans for mandatory minicamp on Tuesday — and with that, Houston’s running back room just got a lot more compelling.
In this episode, we dive into what Chubb’s arrival could mean for the entire backfield, starting with Joe Mixon, who was reportedly in a walking boot this offseason. With questions swirling about health, roles, and long-term upside, the Texans suddenly have a lot to sort out in one of the league’s most intriguing RB rotations.
We explore whether Chubb is a true upgrade over Mixon, if the Texans are making a smart bet on his comeback, and how much of his 2024 production can be chalked up to injury recovery. Plus, we break down how Dameon Pierce fits into all of this — and who might ultimately be the best option behind a potentially limited Mixon.
Texans fans — is Nick Chubb the X-factor this team needs, or just another name in a crowded backfield? Let’s get into it. ESPN Houston's Jeremy Branham and Joel Blank break it all down!
___________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!