TEXANS PLAYER OF THE GAME

Lamar Miller's 2018 rebound continues

Cody Stoots
Nov 26, 2018, 11:09 pm
Lamar Miller finishes off his 97-yard run. Bob Levey/Getty Images

Lamar Miller's resurgent 2018 season continued on Monday Night Football as the Texans veteran back made team history on their way to pushing the AFC's longest win streak to eight. 

With the Texans lead of four points in danger, the defense came up big stopping the Titans on a fourth down. The ensuing play was history for the Texans, but familiar for Lamar Miller. He took a handoff and burst through the line on the right side for a 97-yard touchdown. It was the longest play in the history of the franchise. Miller, in 2014, was the last player to rush for a 97-yard score. Miller said he was well aware he was the last player to go 97 yards for a score. 

"They did a great job getting movement up front and I was just trying to be decisive and make a play," Miller said.

"I was just thinking 'don't get caught, just keep running," he said with a laugh. In previous weeks teammates had joked with him about being caught from behind by defenders. 

"I haven't run like that in a long time," Miller joked. 

The Texans have had a balanced attack for weeks and when the rushing attack gets going, the passing attack appreciates it. 

"It just opened up the whole offense," said Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

He finished the day with 12 carries for 162 yards and the long score. His 13.5 yards per carry average was the best of his career. The team set a single-game franchise record for rushing with 281 yards. 

Miller was decisive and explosive. Much more the player the Texans hoped they would get when they signed him from Miami than he has been in his time with the team the past two seasons. This has been a huge development for the Texans offense the past few weeks on offense as he's forced teams to respect the rushing attack opening things up for the passing game.

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Houston's magic number stays at 2

Astros drop series finale to Mariners after rough start by Greinke

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

With their magic number at 2 to secure their spot in the 2020 MLB postseason, the Astros returned to T-Mobile Park in Seattle for this three-game series' finale and rubber game. Here are the highlights from the game:

Final Score: Mariners 3, Astros 2.

Record: 28-28, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Nick Margevicius (2-3, 4.57 ERA)

Losing pitcher: Zack Greinke (3-3, 4.03 ERA).

Greinke unable to complete five innings

While the Astros were being held scoreless, the Mariners were putting up runs on Zack Greinke. They took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles followed by an RBI-double with one out. Greinke would stop the damage there, then looked to settle in over the next few frames.

He allowed just one baserunner in the second through fourth innings, a one-out single in the bottom of the fourth. Then, in the fifth, the Mariners would knock him out of the game by getting a one-out single that would come around to score on a two-out RBI-double, followed by an RBI-single to extend the lead to 3-0. Greinke faced one more batter, allowing a single before Dusty Baker would take the ball and move to the bullpen. His final line: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 HR, 92 P.

Astros try a late rally, come up short

On the other end, the Astros were unable to break through against Nick Margevicius, getting just one hit and two walks through the first four innings. They had a chance to get on the board in the top of the fifth, starting the inning with back-to-back singles before a walk loaded the bases with one out to turn the lineup over. They'd come up empty, though, with George Springer striking out before a long flyball to center by Jose Altuve to end the inning.

After finishing the fifth for Greinke, Andre Scrubb returned for a scoreless sixth, working around a one-out walk. Still 3-0, Blake Taylor took over on the mound in the bottom of the seventh, erasing a leadoff single and two-out walk to keep Seattle from extending their lead. Houston had another chance to score in the top of the eighth, getting two runners in scoring position, but again would strand them.

Cy Sneed was the next reliever out for the Astros, working around a two-out walk to send the game on to the ninth. The Astros would avoid the shutout, getting a two-RBI single by pinch-hitting Josh Reddick in the top of the ninth to make it a one-run game at 3-2. That's as close as they'd come, though, as the Mariners would eventually get the final out to take the series and keep the Astros' magic number stagnant at 2.


Up Next: There is one series left in the regular season for Houston, and it awaits them in Arlington with a four-game series against the Rangers, who are well eliminated from playoff contention. The first of the four games will start at 7:05 PM Central on Thursday with a pitching matchup of Lance Lynn (6-2, 2.53 ERA) for Texas and Cristian Javier (4-2, 3.33 ERA) for the Astros.

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