Houston Texans add former Cardinals running back to the mix
TEXANS NEWS
15 November 2022
TEXANS NEWS
The Houston Texans used their top waiver wire claim this week to snatch former Cardinals running back Eno Benjamin.
The #Texans have claimed former #AZCardinals RB Eno Benjamin, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 15, 2022
Benjamin reportedly wasn't happy with his lack of playing time, so the team decided to cut ties with the former 7th round pick out of Arizona State.
Benjamin did a decent job filling in while the Cardinals dealt with some injuries at the running back position, but his playing time dwindled after James Connor returned from injury. Hopefully, Benjamin doesn't voice displeasure with the Texans about his playing time, but watching Rex Burkhead get more snaps than him could create another issue.
The Texans have received a lot of criticism for their head-scratching faith in Burkhead this season. Maybe Benjamin's ability to catch the football will finally give the Texans a RB with some juice to take the pass-catching role away from Burkhead. Fingers crossed!
Benjamin started three games this year and recorded 299 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 184 receiving yards on 24 catches.
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.