Whitney Mercilus joins The Jake Asman Show to discuss the 2018 Texans season, and how the team was able to come back from an 0-3 start to win the division. According to Mercilus, the team's improvement on special teams in 2018 was a big factor for the Texans. Houston's weakness in this area has been an issue for several seasons, and they showed noticeable improvement in 2018. Whitney also talks about coming back from a pectoral injury he suffered in 2017, and how he got off to a slow start after tweaking his hamstring in training camp.
Later, Mercilus shares his thoughts on what makes J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney so special, and how the addition of safety Tyrann Mathieu impacted the team. Finally, Whitney talks about Deshaun Watson's toughness and how expects him to get substantially better every year.
You can listen to the full interview above, and make sure to catch The Jake Asman Show on SB Nation Radio.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.