Astros top Rangers to avert series sweep
Send a link to a friend
[September 15, 2016]
HOUSTON -- Marwin Gonzalez has
long provided the Astros exceptional, and often underappreciated,
value as a utility performer but on Wednesday night, his
contributions both at the plate and in the field were impossible to
overlook.
After playing three infield positions due to injuries, Gonzalez
delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning to provide needed
insurance for the Houston Astros, who averted a series sweep by
defeating the Texas Rangers 8-4 at Minute Maid Park.
Gonzalez rolled a single off Texas right-hander Tanner Scheppers
just under the glove of shortstop Elvis Andrus and into center
field, driving home Tyler White and Yulieski Gurriel to extend the
Astros' tenuous one-run lead to 7-4. Rookie right-hander Chris
Devenski worked a scoreless ninth inning for the Astros (76-70), who
concluded a miserable season series against the Rangers (87-60) on a
high note.
Texas won the season series 15-4 and lost for just the sixth time in
the last 29 series meetings.
After starting the game at first base, Gonzalez shifted to second
base in the fourth inning when Jose Altuve was lost to right oblique
discomfort after two plate appearances. Gonzalez moved to third in
the seventh when Alex Bregman departed with right hamstring
discomfort before making his way back to second in the eighth.
"I'm prepared to do that," said Gonzalez, who finished 1-for-4.
"That's my role on the team to cover any spot. The most important
thing is we won the game."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
Texas took the series opener in extra innings before rallying for
two runs with two outs in the ninth inning to win on Tuesday night.
Texas clawed back from a four-run deficit in the finale, getting a
two-run home run from Nomar Mazara, his 18th, in the seventh inning
before catcher Jonathan Lucroy added an RBI single in the eighth.
"Attribute that to the way we play," Rangers manager Jeff Banister
said. "Our guys continue to grind through it. We have a comeback
plan when we get down and our guys I felt like they were continuing
to put that in play. We got it within one, felt like if we could
keep it right there we have a shot."
Mazara stroked his blast off Astros rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove
(3-4), who allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with seven
strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Given the strain placed on their bullpen over the first two games of
the series, what the Astros needed from Musgrove was length. Three
batters into his start he appeared to be in trouble, surrendering an
infield single to Ian Desmond before Carlos Beltran followed with a
double that scored Desmond for a 1-0 Texas lead.
But after allowing consecutive two-out singles in the second,
Musgrove found his footing. He retired nine consecutive batters two
outs into the fifth inning, recording five strikeouts along with
way. And, after he walked Carlos Gomez, Musgrove retired five
successive batters before Nomar Mazara chased him in the seventh.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/091516pics/sports77.jpg)
Astros catcher Evan Gattis (11) hits a single during the second
inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory
Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Mar/14/images/ads/current/tires250x300.gif)
"It feels good to beat these guys," Musgrove said. "We have put up
tough battles and given everything we had, and they have found ways
to sneak out wins in the later innings. To have an offensive burst
in the later innings like that is nice."
George Springer erased the deficit with his 27th homer in first, and
in the second the Astros commenced to play add-on against Texas
lefty Derek Holland (7-8).
Hernandez socked his fourth home run with two outs in the second, a
two-run shot that scored Evan Gattis and put Houston ahead 3-1.
Holland seemed set to keep the deficit at two runs, retiring nine
consecutive batters entering the sixth. But back-to-back singles
from Yulieski Gurriel and Gattis, the second coming against Texas
reliever Jose Leclerc, upped the Astros lead to 5-1.
"Obviously I didn't perform very well," Holland said. "I have to do
better. Not pleased with what happened today. It's frustrating.
There's not really much I can say. Just sucked."
NOTES: Class A Lancaster was eliminated from postseason play on
Tuesday night in Game 4 of the California League South Division
Finals. The JetHawks were one of two Astros' affiliates to qualify
for the playoffs, joining Double-A Corpus Christi. ... With LHP
Martin Perez and RHP A.J. Griffin pitching six-plus innings in
consecutive starts, the Rangers opted to start LHP Derek Holland in
the series finale instead of waiting for an opportunity to utilize
him in long relief. Holland was moved to the bullpen over the
weekend but did not make an appearance as a reliever. ... Rangers 1B
Jurickson Profar was back in the starting lineup after being lifted
as a precautionary measure in the bottom of the 12th inning on
Tuesday night. Texas manager Jeff Banister didn't want Profar, who
started at third base, involved in a critical defensive play with
the game in the balance after witnessing him limping. Profar
delivered the game-winning hit for Texas in the top of the 12th
inning.
[© 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/15/images/ads/current/lincolntheatre_sda_031016.png) |