Let's sift through the aftermath of Houston Astros domination of Rangers
STONE COLD 'STROS
07 September 2023
STONE COLD 'STROS
Coming off an impressive sweep of the Texas Rangers in Arlington, the Astros return to Houston in first place in the AL West with a big series with the Padres looming.
The Astros have been road warriors this season, but they're going to have to recapture some of that magic at home over the next two series if they want to stay on top in their division.
So the question becomes, who are the Astros? Are they the road team that went into Boston and Arlington and came away with sweeps, or are they the club that got swept by the Yankees and the Mariners recently?
In reality, they have been both teams this year. More often than not, they have given back several games after going on a winning streak.
However, let's hope the Astros have now turned a corner, and they're falling back into their postseason form that's made them so successful over the last seven years.
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss all the implications from the Astros huge series win over the Rangers, and what lies ahead.
Be sure to watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) every Monday on SportsMap Houston's YouTube channel.
And listen to ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM for Houston's best sports talk.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.