Houston drops the middle game
Angels get best of Garcia, Astros to even series
Sep 11, 2021, 9:55 pm
Despite Yordan Alvarez reaching base four times, Houston's offense couldn't get it done against the Angels on Saturday. Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Despite Yordan Alvarez reaching base four times, Houston's offense couldn't get it done against the Angels on Saturday.
After outslugging the Angels in Friday's opener to start the series with a win, the opportunity stood in front of the Astros again to secure a series victory and set up a potential sweep. The Angels would prevent that, though, by outplaying Houston on Saturday night.
Final Score: Angels 4, Astros 2
Astros' Record: 82-59, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Jose Suarez (7-7)
Losing Pitcher: Luis Garcia (10-7)
Garcia gives up four over five
For the third time in his last five starts, Luis Garcia would allow three or more earned runs while not making it through six innings. The Angels tagged him in the top of the first, getting two runs on three hits, including a one-out RBI double followed by an RBI groundout, putting them ahead 2-0.
After erasing a one-out single in the second, a leadoff single in the top of the third would turn into a one-out two-run homer, doubling Los Angeles' lead to 4-0. Garcia would finish that frame, then posted a 1-2-3 fourth and erased a leadoff walk in the fifth to end his night. His final line: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 82 P.
Astros drop the middle game
Houston trimmed the lead to three runs in the bottom of the fourth, getting a one-out single by Jose Siri, who stole second before the Astros would load the bases with one out. Yuli Gurriel scored Siri with an RBI fielder's choice, but the Angels limited the damage there, keeping it 4-1.
Brandon Bielak took over for Luis Garcia in the top of the sixth, stranding two runners to keep it a three-run game. He returned in the top of the seventh, posting a 1-2-3 frame, and kept going in the top of the eighth with another scoreless inning as the score remained 4-1.
After a scoreless top of the ninth by Blake Taylor, Houston started a rally in the bottom half, getting a single and a walk to set up an RBI double by Garrett Stubbs to cut the lead to two runs. That left the tying run on second with one out. The rally would come up short, with both runners ending the night stranded as the Angels would finish the win to set up a rubber game in the finale.
Up Next: The finale of this series will be a 1:10 PM Central start on Sunday. Jaime Barria (2-3, 5.16 ERA) will take the mound for Los Angeles, while Houston will hand the ball to Lance McCullers Jr. (11-4, 3.19 ERA).
The Houston Texans addressed their most glaring needs by selecting offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery and a pair of Iowa State receivers in the NFL draft.
“The idea was to try to add good players, good people that are young, tough, hungry, that want to win, that put the team first,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “These picks exemplify that.”
The Texans got players that could help them quickly despite not picking in the first round for a second straight season. They didn’t have a first-round pick last year because of trades, including the one to move up and get defensive end Will Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.
This season they shipped the 25th overall pick to the Giants on Thursday in exchange for several picks.
Their first selection in this draft was receiver Jayden Higgins, who was taken with the second pick of the second round. They added Ersery later in the second round with the 48th overall selection and picked up Higgins’ teammate Jaylin Noel in the third round.
Ersery could be Houston’s left tackle of the future after the offseason trade of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Ersery started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota where he was a third-team All-American last season.
He comes to Houston to help shore up a line that allowed C.J. Stroud to be sacked 52 times last season, which was the second most in the NFL.
The Texans added veteran tackle Cam Robinson this offseason and Ersery will compete with him to protect Stroud’s blind side as the Texans attempt to reach the playoffs for a third straight season under coach DeMeco Ryans.
The 6-foot-6, 331-pound Ersery, who was the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year last season, can’t wait to play with Stroud.
“C.J. Stroud is a baller,” Ersery said. “I’m so honored to be a guy to help out and come in and help protect him. I’m just super stoked and I know I’m going to a great organization.”
Cyclones teammates
Higgins and Noel join the Texans to add more depth at receiver to complement star Nico Collins with Tank Dell recovering from a serious knee injury and Stefon Diggs gone to the Patriots.
Higgins, who has been compared to Collins, had 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns last season for the Cyclones and Noel added 80 catches for 1,194 yards and eight scores.
After Higgins was drafted, Noel never imagined he’d be heading to Houston, too. He shared on social media a fortune he received from a Chinese restaurant that read: “Look forward to an unplanned reunion with an out-of-touch friend.”
Noel later shared his feelings about joining Higgins on the roster.
“I was surprised,” Noel said. “But they’ve seen that 1-2 punch all year. They’re going to be very happy with those selections for sure.”
Caserio said a talk with Iowa State coach Matt Campbell on Friday helped him make his final decisions on the receivers.
“He was effusive in his… belief and praise of both Higgins and Noel,” Caserio said.
The Texans now have three receivers from Iowa State on their roster after drafting Xavier Hutchinson in the sixth round in 2023.
Overcoming obstacles
Ersery and his four siblings were raised by a single mother and experienced homelessness when he was a child despite her working multiple jobs. He is thrilled to have put those struggles behind him as he embarks on his next chapter.
“I’ve got that hardworking mentality from her,” he said. “So, growing up times were tough but now I’ve got my foot in the door and I look forward to trying to change some things around.”
Caserio loves guys with work ethic like Ersery’s and said that’s one reason why they believe he’ll fit in with the Texans.
“If you come in and put your head down and work and just get better, take advantage of your opportunities, you’re going to have a shot to have success and do a lot of good things for the organization,” he said.
What’s in a name?
Along with Noel, the Texans added another Jaylin in this draft with they picked USC cornerback Jaylin Smith in the third round.
“We got Jaylins, and we got all these guys around. It’s going to be hard to keep them straight,” Caserio joked on Friday after they picked Smith.
Then on Saturday, the Texans added another player with the same name, albeit with a different spelling, when they took Penn State safety Jaylen Reed in the sixth round.
That gives them four players with the same name and three different spellings as the three rookies join starting safety Jalen Pitre on the team.
Doubling up
Along with drafting two players from Iowa State, the Texans also added a pair of players from Southern California when they picked running back Woody Marks in the fourth round after drafting Smith in the third.
Marks ran for a career-high 1,133 yards with nine touchdowns for the Trojans last season after transferring from Mississippi State.
Be sure to watch the video below as NFL.com Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein shares his thoughts on all the Texans' picks!