Houston wins the opener
Astros grab comeback win over Rangers in Arlington
Aug 27, 2021, 10:31 pm
The Astros came alive for a five-run inning which put them over the Rangers on Friday. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
The Astros came alive for a five-run inning which put them over the Rangers on Friday.
After taking two of three from the Royals earlier in the week and benefiting from some losses by the A's to extend their division lead, the Astros entered Globe Life Field on Friday looking to continue to set themselves apart on top of the AL West. Despite going down four runs in the game, they would grab the comeback win to start the series.
Final Score: Astros 5, Rangers 4
Astros' Record: 76-52, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Phil Maton (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Brett Martin (3-4)
Odorizzi gives up two over five innings
After three scoreless innings, Jake Odorizzi allowed the first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth after a leadoff double scored later in the inning on an RBI single, putting the Rangers up 1-0. They doubled their lead in the next inning, getting a one-out solo homer in the bottom of the fifth to make it 2-0. Odorizzi would finish that frame, but Houston turned to their bullpen in the sixth, making his final line 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 88 P.
Rangers extend their lead, but Houston battles back
Phil Maton was the first reliever out for the Astros, but he did not fare well in the bottom of the sixth, allowing the Rangers to push their lead to 4-0 on back-to-back two-out RBI doubles. Houston battled back in the top of the seventh, getting five runs on four hits, including a two-RBI double by Jake Meyers, a two-RBI single by Michael Brantley, and an RBI groundout by Yuli Gurriel, giving Houston their first lead of the night at 5-4.
Professional hitter, Michael Brantley.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/DkJ4jmHg3q
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 28, 2021
Astros take the opener on the comeback win
Yimi Garcia was the next reliever out of the bullpen for Houston, and he worked around a one-out single for a scoreless inning. After a scoreless top of the eighth, Ryne Stanek took over on the mound, and he, too, erased a one-out single to maintain the one-run lead. That set up the save opportunity for Ryan Pressly, and despite allowing two singles, he would notch his 20th of the season with some solid defense behind him, finishing the win for the Astros and starting the series with a win.
Up Next: The middle game of this series will get started at 6:05 PM Central on Saturday. The pitching matchup is expected to be Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.94 ERA) for the Astros and Kolby Allard (3-10, 4.86 ERA) for the Rangers.
The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
___________________________
*ChatGPT assisted.
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!