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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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.