Rangers score two in ninth, beat Astros 3-2
Send a link to a friend
[September 14, 2016]
HOUSTON -- Just when it appeared
that the Rangers had finally exhausted their fortuitous bounces in
this lopsided series against their in-state rivals, good fortunate
smiled upon Texas again and subsequently left the Houston Astros
staggered and in disbelief.
Elvis Andrus delivered a game-tying, two-out triple in the ninth
inning and Jurickson Profar followed by plating Andrus with a single
to lift the Rangers to a stunning 3-2 win over the Astros on Tuesday
night at Minute Maid Park.
The Rangers (87-59) rallied against Astros closer Ken Giles (2-4),
whose strikeout of Rougned Odor resulted in Odor reaching base on a
wild pitch instead of going down as the second out of the inning.
Odor followed with a stolen base and scored when Andrus drilled a
1-0 fastball to straightaway center field over Jake Marisnick.
Profar then delivered a sharp single to left field on the ensuing
pitch, scoring Andrus and capping the improbable rally. Giles had
converted nine consecutive saves and pitched two scoreless innings
on Monday night in Texas' 4-3 victory. The Rangers rendered his
success moot with their 23rd win over Houston in 28 games.
"That's a credit to our team," Andrus said. "Odor battled that
at-bat and, even on a strikeout, gets to first base. Then, a huge
jump to get to second. I think that's what separates this team from
past years. We don't give up until the last out. It was another
amazing win."
Astros catcher Jason Castro socked a leadoff home run in the sixth
inning off Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin, his 11th home run of
the season providing the Astros (75-70) life and a 2-1 lead over
Griffin, who excelled over seven innings.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
Griffin allowed four hits and one walk, with seven strikeouts. But
two of those hits were solo home runs, including one in the fourth
inning by Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who went 3-for-4 for
his first three-hit game since Aug. 19 in Baltimore.
The Rangers, stymied for five innings by the Astros' bullpen on
Monday night, mustered just one run against Houston right-hander
Brad Peacock and scuffled against relievers Will Harris and Luke
Gregerson before their breathtaking comeback against Giles.
Harris and Gregerson worked a scoreless inning apiece, with
Gregerson facing the top of the Rangers' order in the eighth and
striking out the side.
But, after Alex Claudio (4-1) worked a perfect bottom of the eighth,
the Rangers fashioned yet another come-from-behind win and improved
to 33-10 in one-run games.
"They wait for the right moment," Giles said. "They jump on mistakes
and they just take advantage of your mistakes. They're very good at
that. They're a rally-type team. They hit the ball and stay patient
until something goes their way, and they take full advantage of it."
Peacock exceeded all expectations while making just his second start
this season. He disarmed the Rangers throughout his six innings,
yielding a leadoff homer to designated hitter Adrian Beltre in the
second plus four additional baserunners.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/091416pics/sports79.jpg)
Astros catcher Jason Castro (15) tags Texas Rangers third baseman
Jurickson Profar (19) out at home plate in the ninth inning at
Minute Maid Park. Texas won 3 to 2 . Mandatory Credit: Thomas B.
Shea-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
Odor and Carlos Gomez recorded doubles off Peacock in the second and
third innings and both times he escaped further damage, retiring
three consecutive batters after Odor doubled before working around a
one-out walk to Carlos Beltran with Gomez in scoring position.
Beltran was the last batter to reach base against Peacock, who
retired the final 10 Rangers he faced to conclude his stellar
outing.
"He did everything he could to put us in a position to win, and I
couldn't ask more out of him," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.
Griffin was equal to the task, surrendering just an Altuve single
through three innings. But Altuve struck again in his second plate
appearance, drilling his 24th home run to pull the Astros even at
1-1 in the fourth inning. Griffin recovered to retire the final two
batters of that frame and then faced the minimum thanks to an
inning-ending double play in the fifth before the Astros moved
ahead.
That measure of optimism was tenuous for Houston, like it always is
against Texas.
"We were able to find a way to beat their bullpen," said Beltre,
whose home run was his 30th. "We are happy that Giles didn't put us
down."
NOTES: With each passing day, it appears increasingly unlikely that
Astros OF Preston Tucker will return this season. Tucker remains on
a rehab schedule for the right shoulder sprain that resulted in his
being placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 12. ... A timetable
has not been set on the return of Rangers RHP Tony Barnette (oblique
strain) but his condition has improved. Barnette last pitched for
the Rangers on Sept. 4, recording four strikeouts over two innings
against the Astros in Arlington. ... Astros LHP Dallas Keuchel
expressed optimism that he would begin a throwing program on
Wednesday, but Houston manager A.J. Hinch was more dubious. Keuchel
remains sidelined by left shoulder inflammation.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Sep/14/images/ads/current/peasley%20lda%20080907.png) |