Astros extend winning streak to six games
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 8-1 win
May 13, 2019, 9:14 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After sweeping the Rangers in Houston to finish last week and put them on a five-game winning streak, the Astros started a week on the road in Detroit on Monday night. Here's a recap of the first of three games against the Tigers:
Final Score: Astros 8, Tigers 1
Record: 27-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Brad Peacock (4-2, 4.01 ERA)
Losing pitcher: Matthew Boyd (4-3, 3.15 ERA)
1) Living by the long ball
Aledmys Diaz got the scoring started for Houston in the top of the second, hitting a solo home run to grab a 1-0 lead. After a walk from Tyler White in the next at-bat, Robinson Chirinos took advantage with a home run of his own to extend the lead to 3-0. Jake Marisnick kept the home run train going by hitting a two-run blast of his own in the top of the seventh to make the game 5-1. George Springer scored the first run that wasn't a homer in the top of the ninth, hitting an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1 before Alex Bregman immediately followed with a home run to make it 8-1.
2) Peacock throws five innings
Brad Peacock did not have as great of a start on Monday as he did last week in Houston, only getting through five innings of work compared to the seven shutout innings in his last start. Over those five innings, he allowed one run on just three hits, four walks, and struck out three. The four walks increased his pitch count early, resulting in his short outing.
3) Bullpen pitches the final four innings
Hector Rondon took over on the mound in the sixth and was able to work around a hit to complete a scoreless inning. Will Harris had the seventh and was able to erase a couple of walks to send the game to the final two innings. Ryan Pressly was on the mound for the eighth and continued his streak of scoreless innings, then Josh James came in with the seven-run lead in the ninth and closed out the win on an incredible catch by George Springer.
Up Next: The Astros and Tigers will continue this series with another 6:10 PM start time tomorrow night. Wade Miley (3-2, 3.18 ERA) will be on the mound for Houston opposite of Ryan Carpenter (0-1, 10.80 ERA) for Detroit.
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.