Astros take first game of the series
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 4-2 win
May 9, 2019, 10:09 pm
Astros take first game of the series
After winning the series against the Royals earlier in the week, the Astros turned the page to a four-game set with the Rangers starting on Thursday night. Here's how the first game of the series panned out:
Final Score: Astros 4, Rangers 2
Record: 23-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Wade Miley (3-2, 3.18 ERA)
Losing pitcher: Mike Minor (3-3, 2.68 ERA)
Wade Miley added another good start to his 2019 season, going six innings and keeping the Rangers to two runs in that span. The two runs came on a two-run home run in the top of the fourth, which was one of just two hits he allowed on the night. Those two runs on two hits combined with two walks and seven strikeouts would add up to a good start. The seven strikeouts matched his season-best so far.
George Springer smashed his 13th home run of the early season in the bottom of the third which put Houston ahead 1-0 at the time. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Astros strung together some hits and a walk to load the bases before Alex Bregman hit a sac fly to tie the game at 2-2. They were unable to convert any more of those runners, though, keeping the game tied until the bottom of the next inning when Josh Reddick put Houston back ahead 3-2 on an RBI single.
Houston threatened again in the bottom of the eighth, looking to add some insurance runs to their one-run lead. They loaded the bases with one-out, then after a strikeout went to a pinch-hitting Michael Brantley who worked an RBI-walk to make it a 4-2 game. That's all they would come away with, but that was enough to get the win.
Will Harris took over in the seventh and worked around a one-out walk to keep the Astros in front by one run. Ryan Pressly pitched the eighth, just another ho hum scoreless inning to keep his record streak going. That set up Roberto Osuna for another save opportunity, which he converted thanks to a homer-robbing catch by Josh Reddick.
Up Next: Game two of this four-game series will get underway tomorrow night at 7:10 PM. The Astros will send out their ace, Justin Verlander (5-1, 2.86 ERA), to face off against Lance Lynn (4-2, 5.75 ERA) for the Rangers.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
The Minnesota Vikings have acquired running back Cam Akers in a trade for the second straight year, agreeing Tuesday to send a late draft pick to the Houston Texans for more depth at the position.
The deal, which was contingent on Akers passing a physical exam, has the Vikings sending a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2026 draft to the Texans for Akers and a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Akers, who was a second-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020 when current Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell was the offensive coordinator there, came to the Vikings in a deal with the Rams on Sept. 20, 2023. He had 138 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in six games before suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon tear.
Akers signed with the Texans this year after considering a return to the Vikings. He had 147 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards in five games, helping fill in for the injured Joe Mixon.
Akers has 1,728 rushing yards and 336 receiving yards in five NFL seasons. He led the league with 67 rushing attempts during the 2021 postseason while helping the Rams to a Super Bowl title.
The Vikings could be without starting running back Aaron Jones Sr. this week after he hurt his hip in the previous game. Ty Chandler is next in line.