|
 Just ask manager Jeff Banister.
"Put a lot of energy in that dugout and on the field, and solidified
the belief in where these guys think that can go, the confidence
they have," he said after Wednesday night's 4-3 win at Globe Life
Park. "We've talked about playing at home, being able to win at home
and playing clean baseball. It was a big series for us, not only at
home, but against the team in first place and one of the ball clubs
we're trying to run down."
Texas (54-53) has won four straight, the last three coming against
its in-state rivals, and finished a 10-game homestand at 7-3. The
Rangers also moved within five games of Houston (60-49) in the
division and are two games out of the second wild card.
The Rangers scored all four of their runs against Houston ace Scott
Kazmir (6-6), though only one was earned. It was enough, however, to
make a winner of starter Nick Martinez (7-6) on his 25th birthday.
Houston managed only four hits but drew a season-high eight walks.
The Astros, losers of five in a row on the road, went 2-11 with
runners in scoring position.
Texas has an off day before opening a series Friday at Seattle.
Houston plays at Oakland starting Thursday.
"We had opportunities in the sixth and ninth, but we obviously need
to get out of town and get to a new series," Astros manager A.J.
Hinch said. "We didn't play very well this series."
Martinez was done after five innings, having allowed one run on one
hit. The bullpen, initially, wasn't as effective.
The Astros scored two runs in the sixth against relievers Phil Klein
and Sam Freeman, who combined to issue four walks in the inning.
With Texas clinging to a one-run lead, manager Jeff Banister turned
to reliever Spencer Patton with the bases loaded and two outs.
Patton got left fielder Jake Marisnick to fly out before working a
clean seventh. Jake Diekman tossed a scoreless eighth.
Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson had the night off, leaving the ninth
to reliever Sam Dyson. Dyson had to dance around the two runners he
put on in the ninth before picking up his second save.
"You're kind of used to the stressful situations," he said. "It's
nice to get thrown into the fire right away and get your feet wet. I
think that helps with the stress."
Diekman and Dyson were both picked up at the trade deadline, and
have taken integral roles late in games.
"You've got to tip our hats to these guys in the bullpen," Rangers
catcher Chris Gimenez said. "They did a great job this whole
homestand. It's kind of that theory of bend and do not break. That's
what we did tonight. We have some guys now to come in and shut the
door."
[to top of second column] |
The Rangers got on the board with three runs in the first thanks to
two Houston errors, including one by Kazmir, a walk and two hits.
All the runs were unearned.
"The whole game starts in the first inning," Hinch said. "They had
two singles, three runs, two errors, a walk. We just didn't get into
the game."
Texas got a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Prince Fielder and
run-scoring singles from first baseman Mitch Moreland and shortstop
Elvis Andrus.
Kazmir's ERA did take a hit in the second, as Gimenez drilled a home
run to straightaway center to make it 4-0. The Gimenez solo shot
matched the one earned run Kazmir allowed in July.
Houston got a run back in the fourth against Martinez. Third baseman
Jed Lowrie doubled to center to bring home center fielder Carlos
Gomez.
The Rangers gave outfielders Josh Hamilton and Shin-Soo Choo the
night off at the start, though Choo pinch-hit in the seventh and
remained in the game.
NOTES: Houston designated RHP Dan Straily for assignment and
recalled RHP Asher Wojciechowski from Triple-A Fresno. Straily, who
lost in a spot start against Texas on Tuesday, is expected to remain
in the organization. He was 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three major
league starts this year. Wojciechowski went 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA in
four games (three starts) for the Astros earlier this year. ...
Texas RHP Shawn Tolleson began the night with 20 saves since May 20.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 76 days it took him to go
from one save to 20 is the fourth-fasted in major league history.
... Houston manager A.J. Hinch met with 1B Chris Carter regarding
playing time: "His opportunities have thinned out, but he'll be back
in there." ... Astros OF Preston Tucker (sore right triceps) was
available Wednesday night. He was hit by a pitch in the arm Tuesday.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
