Two huge plays for the Texans linebacker leads the day on defense
Player of the game: Mercilus' huge day helps Texans to sloppy 13-12 win
Sep 15, 2019, 3:03 pm
Zach Tarrant/Houstontexans.com
When the Houston Texans needed a play the most on defense, Whitney Mercilus was there.
With both teams stalling out on offense drive after drive the Texans had the Jaguars pinned deep in their own territory. As rookie Gardner Minshew dropped back to pass Mercilus went almost untouched after hitting the Jaguars tackle with a spin move. The ball squirted away where J.J. Watt recovered it.
Minshew's third fumble of the game. The Texans finally got on top of one. pic.twitter.com/nBe6PzxGN6
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) September 15, 2019
"Now I get to do what I do best and tee it up," said Whitney Mercilus after the game.
It is the first time he has had three sacks in the first two games. It is the seventh time in his career Mercilus has had at least two sacks in a two game stretch.
"I think our guys rushed the passer hard," Bill O'Brien said after the game.
O'Brien praised Minshew's mobility and toughness against the Texans defense. Mercilus had equal praise for the Jaguars rookie.
It was the second time Mercilus had got home and caused a fumble for the Texans. Earlier in the day he beat his man again and engulfed Minshew causing a fumble. The Jaguars used extra help a couple of time on Mercilus and though his only stats came on those two tackles, he had quite the effect on the game.
Mercilus has been a terror and the best pass rusher on the team since returning to his natural position rushing the passer. Last week he had a key interception for the defense. Through two games he has been the defensive MVP for the team.
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Jeremy Peña and Christian Walker each hit a three-run homer, and the Houston Astros outslugged the Baltimore Orioles 10-7 on Friday night.
A little something to make your day better pic.twitter.com/whwYikHwx2
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 22, 2025
Colton Cowser went deep for Baltimore, but the Orioles couldn’t pull this game out despite twice cutting a four-run deficit to one.
Steven Okert (2-2) got the win in relief for Houston, and the Astros — who are without injured closer Josh Hader and lefty reliever Bennett Sousa — held on. Houston signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel and he was with the team, but the AL West-leading Astros didn’t use him. Bryan Abreu struck out four to end the game and get his second save.
Rookie catcher Samuel Basallo, who agreed to an eight-year, $67 million contract before the game, did not start for the Orioles, but entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and tagged out a runner at the plate the following inning.
Peña’s drive to left capped a four-run third that included two Baltimore errors. Jeremiah Jackson’s two-run double made it 4-3 in the fourth, but after Orioles starter Cade Povich (2-7) was pulled with two outs in the fifth, Yennier Cano came on and immediately gave up Walker’s homer.
The Orioles trailed 7-6 after Cowser’s solo shot in the seventh, but pinch-hitter Victor Caratini’s two-run double in the eighth made it a three-run game, and Peña’s comebacker bounced off reliever Corbin Martin and into shallow right-center field for an RBI double.
Orioles infielder Vimael Machín hit a solo homer in the eighth in his first big league plate appearance since 2022.
Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. allowed three runs in four innings after coming off the injured list (right finger blister).
Key moment
Jackson nearly made a diving catch on Caratini’s hit with two outs in the eighth, but once the ball got past him in right, two runs scored to make it 9-6.
Adding some insurance! pic.twitter.com/wKoPuHmenr
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 23, 2025
Key stat
The Astros improved to 15-8 in games in which their opponent starts a left-handed pitcher.
Up next
Cristian Javier (1-1) starts for Houston on Saturday night against Dean Kremer (9-9) of the Orioles.