Astros fall back below .500
McCullers Jr. impressive in return, but Rangers blank Astros in pitcher's duel
Sep 16, 2020, 9:47 pm
Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images
Astros Lance McCullers Jr.
After taking the opener thanks to timely hits and a great outing from their starter, the Astros resumed play on Wednesday with the Rangers trying to lock up the series win. Here is a quick rundown of the middle game of the three-game series:
Final Score: Rangers 1, Astros 0.
Record: 24-25, second in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Kyle Gibson (2-5, 5.18 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Ryan Pressly (1-3, 4.00 ERA).
An unexpected pitcher's duel
Wednesday's game would unfold as an unexpected pitcher's duel. For the Astros, Lance McCullers Jr. made an excellent return from the IL, going seven full shutout innings while allowing just two hits. Those two hits were the Rangers' only baserunners over those seven innings. McCullers Jr.'s final line: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0 HR, 86 P.
Pressly allows the winning run as Gibson tosses the complete-game shutout
After McCullers Jr, Josh James entered and worked around a two-out single for a scoreless eighth. Ryan Pressly was on for the ninth, trying to keep the game scoreless to provide Houston with a walk-off chance. Instead, a leadoff single would later result in the first run of the game on a two-out double just inside the foul line down the first-base side to give Texas a 1-0 lead in the top of the ninth.
Pressly walked his next batter, prompting another call to the bullpen to bring in Enoli Paredes. Paredes would get the final out of the frame with a strikeout. The run allowed by Pressly would be the only of the game, as the Astros would come up empty in the bottom half, dropping the middle game of the series as Kyle Gibson would toss a complete-game shutout against the Astros to get the win.
Up Next: The series finale between these two teams will start a bit earlier on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 PM Central. Framber Valdez (3-3, 4.08 ERA) will make another start for the Astros, while Jordan Lyles (1-4, 7.80 ERA) will be on the mound for the Rangers.
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Milos Uzan scored 14 points, L.J. Cryer added 13 points and No. 7 Houston routed Utah 70-36 on Wednesday night for its 11th straight win.
J’Wan Roberts had 11 points and Terrance Arceneaux scored 10 points for the Cougars (15-3, 7-0 Big 12). Houston won its 33rd consecutive home game, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
Houston shot 43% from the field and was 5 of 18 on 3-pointers.
Gabe Madsen scored eight points and Keanu Dawes added seven points and nine rebounds for Utah (11-7, 3-4), which had its three-game winning streak snapped. The Utes shot 30% from the field and were 5 of 17 on 3-pointers.
Takeaways
Utah: The Utes had issues with Houston’s defense throughout. Utah had issues shooting the ball as Houston double and triple-teamed on defense.
Houston: The Cougars were playing without second leading scorer Emanuel Sharp, who sat out with a boot on his right foot. Even without Sharp, Houston did not miss a beat and scored at will both inside and outside.
Key moment
Leading 8-5, Cryer made a jumper with 16 minutes remaining in the first half to spark an 18-0 run. Houston led 41-17 at the half.
Key stat
Houston forced Utah into 26 turnovers and converted them into 29 points. The Cougars held a 19-0 advantage in points off turnovers at the half. Houston finished with just five turnovers.
Up next
Houston travels to No. 12 Kansas on Saturday, and Utah hosts Baylor the same day.