Astros crush the Rangers to complete the four-game sweep
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 15-5 win
May 12, 2019, 4:18 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After taking the first three of this four-game series with the Rangers, the Astros looked to make it a clean sweep with a win on Mother's Day Sunday. It was also the MLB debut of right-handed starter Corbin Martin. Here is a quick look at the game and three takeaways:
Final Score: Astros 15, Rangers 5
Record: 26-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Corbin Martin (1-0, 3.38 ERA)
Losing pitcher: Adrian Sampson (0-3, 5.25 ERA)
1) Springer and Bregman lead another big offensive game
George Springer started the game in a big way for the Astros, launching his 14th home run of the season to give Houston the immediate 1-0 lead and keeping him on top of the AL home run leaderboard. Springer struck again in the next inning, extending the lead to 2-0 on an RBI single before Alex Bregman made it 4-0 with a two-run home run in the next at-bat.
After a two-RBI single from Carlos Correa in the fourth to make it a 6-1 game, the Astros had a big fifth inning with an RBI-single from Tony Kemp followed by a single by Springer to set up a three-run homer for Alex Bregman, his second of the day, which put Houston at double digits at 10-1.
They, of course, didn't stop there, putting up a five-run sixth inning on an RBI-double by Yuli Gurriel, a two-RBI double by Aledmys Diaz, then a two-run dinger for Springer, his second of the day and putting him at 5-for-5 on the day to that point. That made it a 15-3 game, and they'd take that twelve-run lead to the end.
2) Terrific debut for Martin
Even though Corbin Martin was expected to be on a limited pitch count in his major-league debut, he crushed expectations by throwing a great game. Martin would get all the way into the sixth inning before hitting the 80 pitch mark which caused A.J. Hinch to come out and make the call to the bullpen. Martin had a debut he can look back on as a great memory, finishing five and one-third innings during which he allowed just two runs (one he gave up directly, then the other came when McHugh couldn't erase the inherited runner) on three hits and one walk while striking out nine.
3) McHugh struggles out of the bullpen, Valdez and Devenski close it out
Collin McHugh made his first appearance out of the bullpen this season, taking over for Corbin Martin with one out in the sixth inning. As mentioned, McHugh would allow Martin's runner to score, then allowed one of his own as the Rangers put together a two-run inning to trim the big lead. McHugh had trouble again in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. To his credit, he would get out of that situation without allowing a run, but it was still overall a shaky relief appearance.
Framber Valdez took over in the eighth inning and threw a scoreless frame to move the game on to the ninth. In the ninth, Chris Devenski took over and would allow a two-run home run before closing out the very lopsided game.
Up Next: The Astros will travel to Detroit tonight to kick off a week of games on the road tomorrow night. The first of three games against Detroit will start at 6:10 PM and will feature Brad Peacock (3-2, 4.30 ERA) for Houston going up against Matthew Boyd (4-2, 2.86 ERA) for the Tigers.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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The Texas Longhorns still believe in quarterback Quinn Ewers despite two poor games from the third-year starter who was briefly benched in last week's loss to No. 1 Georgia, coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday.
Ewers struggled through one of his worst career games against the Bulldogs, completing 25 of 43 passes for 211 yards with an interception and two fumbles. He was 6-of-12 passing for 17 yards on the Longhorns' first six drives, and was replaced by Arch Manning in the second quarter as Georgia took a 23-0 lead into halftime.
Ewers returned in the third quarter and led two touchdown drives. But the overall performance in one of the biggest games of the season was well below what was expected from a veteran quarterback who some predict as a potential first round NFL draft pick.
Texas never led against the Bulldogs and Ewers looked rattled.
Sarkisian has insisted that Ewers remains the No. 1 quarterback going forward.
“We have confidence and belief in him,” Sarkisian said. “I think he's going to come out and play really good football for us here in the second half of the season.”
Texas (6-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) plays at No. 25 Vanderbilt (5-2, 2-1) on Saturday.
Ewers did not meet with reporters on Monday.
He had performed at his best in some of Texas' biggest games the previous two seasons. He was considered a likely Heisman Trophy contender after the Longhorns won at defending national champion Michigan in week two.
But he was sidelined by an abdomen strain in the first half a week later against UTSA, and the injury knocked him out of the next two games. He returned for Texas' 34-3 win over Oklahoma, but had just 199 yards and one touchdown passing and said he needed to play better.
Against Georgia, Ewers appeared hesitant against a fierce Bulldogs pass rush and missed several throws. The Bulldogs recorded seven sacks and Texas never led.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was arguably having an even worse game. He was 23-of-41 passing for 175 yards and three interceptions.
But after Texas cut the Georgia lead to 23-15, Beck answered by leading the Bulldogs on an 11-play, 89-yard drive to the final touchdown of the game.
“I think Quinn definitely can play better. We've got to continue to work on his pocket presence,” Sarkisian said. “But I also think we need to play better around him. You know, our offense isn't about one player playing well.”
Texas rushed for just 29 yards and and managed only 259 total yards of offense against Georgia.
Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. said the Longhorns will rally behind Ewers.
“We're always going to trust Quinn. We're always going to believe in Quinn,” Banks said.