PLAYING THE PONIES
Sam Houston Race Park selections for Saturday, April 20
Apr 20, 2019, 6:12 am
Coady Photography
Here are my selections for Saturday night. These are not meant to be in exact order, but merely the four horses I think have the best chance to win. For beginners, I suggest exacta boxes with three horses, using two of mine and one of your own. And you can always pick up a copy of Acing Racing 2016 to learn everything you need to know. (These are the picks and format that are available on the free tip sheet at SHRP).
FIRST
2-1-4-5
DRIVEN BY RESULTS
Stretches out and might pull off a mild surprise
SECOND
4-6-2-1
SS HIGHLY COVERT
Has been consistently close and this might be the night
THIRD
1-5-6-7
BORGER BOY
Heads a tough entry and either horse could take this one
FOURTH
6-2-1-7
MOMAS DEALING
Can easily be in the mix with a clean start
FIFTH
8-4-6-1
THE ROXY GIRL
Has been close before and this looks like a good spot
SIXTH
5-6-2-7
FINANCIAL TOP
Has improved and last few starts have been good enough
SEVENTH
2-7-3-4
EOS A POLITICAL WIN
Likes to win but faces a very competitive group
EIGHTH
8-7-3-4
HAWKEYE
Has faced some of the best runners in the country and draws a favorable post
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Zack Short hit a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning after Christian Walker tied it with a sacrifice fly and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 on Saturday night.
Short hit a 1-1 pitch to right field off Hoby Milner after Robert Garcia (1-5) walked two to load the bases.
Texas took a 4-3 lead when Adolis García hit the first pitch from Bennett Sousa (3-0) for a single — scoring automatic runner Marcus Semien.
Kyle Higashioka hit a solo home run off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to tie it 3-3. It was the first blown save for Hader after 25 straight to begin the season.
Jose Altuve hit his 17th homer — a two-out solo shot in the first off Jacob deGrom to tie it 1-1 after the Rangers scored an unearned run on Framber Valdez’s wild pitch.
Yainer Diaz homered for the 14th time for a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Mauricio Dubón hit his sixth homer off Jacob Webb for a 3-1 lead in the seventh.
Semien hit his 11th homer to cut it to 3-2 in the eighth.
Valdez allowed an unearned run on four hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks in six innings. The Astros have won his last 12 starts with him getting the win in nine of them.
DeGrom allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in six innings with eight strikeouts.
The Rangers struck out 19 times — two short of the club record for an extra-inning game.
Key moment
Short entered as a pinch runner in the ninth and was just 4 for 17 before his game winner.
Key stat
Houston hasn’t lost a season series with division rival Texas since 2016.
Up next
Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (6-3, 1.62 ERA) starts Sunday’s rubber game opposite Astros RHP Hunter Brown (9-3, 2.21).
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