A little over two weeks into the season and The Astros have
already faced the Rangers for a 2nd time. In the last series with
The Rangers, The Astros had 22 runs while the Rangers had 11. This series the
Astros had 9 while the Rangers had 11. Here’s how these three games panned out.
Game 1- Cole vs
Hamels
Take a look at this line from Gerrit “Not even our first
starter” Cole: 7IP, 3H/2ER, 14K:1BB.
Yep. You read that correctly. Fourteen. He was so good that
the fact that he didn’t get the W on this one is an atrocity, but that’s what
happened because in the 7th Joey Gallo and Robinson Chirinos both
hit two solo HR’s to tie up the game. Speaking of solo HR’s, George Springer
had two in this game, the first being off the very first pitch of the game from
Cole Hamels. In the bottom of 8th, Evan Gattis drew a walk and Derek
Fisher came in to pinch run (which of course is always a good idea). Marwin Gonzalez
hit a line drive up the middle which was misplayed by Drew Robinson and
allowed Fisher to book it all the way home scoring the winning run.
Game 2- Morton vs
Minor
Charlie “Shoulda Got This W” Morton struck out 12 Saturday
to tie a career high. That’s all I have to say about that. The offense broke
out in the bottom of the 4th. Single, Single, HBP, Double, HR and the
Astros would lead it 5-0. In the 5th and 6th The
Rangers scored two with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Adrian Beltre each getting a
solo HR. Brad Peacock allowed a 2 run homer from Joey Gallo and a solo Hr from Ronald
Guzman. Tied at the end of the 9th after a clean inning from Ken “You
can’t blame this one on me” Giles, Will “Are you serious” Harris came in for the
10th to walk Jurickson Profar, give Gallo a double, intentionally walk
Beltre to load the bases and then allow a single from Guzman to put the Rangers
ahead permanently. Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve attempted to get the rally
going in the bottom of the 10th but it was a no-go with Carlos Correa,
Yuli Gurriel and Josh Reddick all taken out.
Game 3- Verlander
vs Colon
Sometimes a game with no offense can be an epic bore but
when you have two pitchers going at it the way Bartolo Colon and Justin
Verlander did, it’s more exciting than the box score would let on. Bartolo
Colon was perfect through 7 but in the 8th Carlos Correa walked, Josh Reddick doubled and Yuli Gurriel hit a sacfly to get
the Astros first and only run for the night on the board. Outside of a homerun
to Robinson Churinos in the 3rd, Verlander allowed no hits while on
the mound, striking out 11. As far as the Astros offense goes, there’s not much
to say because not much happened.
And not much has happened the way I think most of us thought
it would happen this season so far. It’s early, small sample sizes, etc. True.
What is also true is the Astros are still looking to settle in this season
offensively. Defensively we’ve seen the field take care of the SP’s pretty
well. Seeing guys like Gerrit Cole, Charlie Morton and Justin Verlander come up
w a no decision because the offense is lagging is disappointing. Those guys
deserve those wins. We know they’ll figure it out. This group is too talented
not to. I just hope they do before the next time we face them damn Ramgers.
Up next, The Astros head to Seattle to start a seven game
road trip.
Series W-L: 3-2
