Texans Player of the Game

Watson dazzles again in loss

Watson dazzles again in loss
Deshaun Watson was magical in the win. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Not one, two, or even three tacklers could bring down Deshaun Watson as he scrambled and then found rookie tight end Jordan Akins for 22 yards. On third down no less. Then, moments later, Watson perfectly placed a pass to rookie wideout Vyncint Smith for a 35-yard touchdown to tie the game. The extra point would put the Texans ahead but a last-second Eagles field goal would spoil the typical comeback story.

Watson, again, was amazing. He started slow with the Texans failing to find anything on the ground. With the rushing attack struggling the Texans turned to Watson and his shoulders were ready to carry the load.

Both of the Texans first-half touchdowns were via Watson's feet. The first one, a designed run to the left where he side-stepped an Eagles defender and waltzed in for a touchdown. The second score Watson saw nothing to hit with a pass so he took off untouched for another touchdown.

The offensive line struggled mightily. Watson would lead the team in rushing with 49 yards, most of them making something out of nothing when protection broke down. There were far fewer instances of him holding the ball too long as he decided to make use of his legs. He was hit nine times and sacked four times in the game.

He was even more dynamic through the air.

The second half alone saw Watson pass for 234 yards and his two touchdowns. He was the only chance the Texans had and he made play after play to keep the Texans in the game and almost earn them the win.

This is the type of game you dream of when you draft a franchise quarterback and Watson showed he is every bit the part in just his second year.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

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.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome