The Rangers Are 24-19
/The offense may not be clicking, but it's still a win.
- Cesar Ramos got the start tonight, and he did a great job for your 5th starter. He went 6 innings on 2 hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts, and now has an ERA of 3.57 on the season. His FIP of 5.25 shows that he's getting a lot of help from his defense, but that's pretty much what you expect from a pitcher like Ramos. He'll at least have fans talking a bit about his spot in the rotation upon Yu Darvish's return next Saturday. I don't think we'll actually see Derek Holland lose his spot, but it's something that fans will be talking about, nonetheless.
- Elvis Andrus provided one-half of the run-scoring with a solo home run in the top of the 2nd inning that left the bat at 92 mph. If you had Elvis as your pick to hit a home run today, congratulations, you win money.
- Other than that, a Rougned Odor single that drove in Bryan Holaday in the top of the 3rd provided the Rangers with the only other run-scoring they needed.
- Marwin Gonzalez, on the list of "Astros that Rangers fans love to hate", hit solo home run in bottom of the 3rd inning that made it 2-1.
- Matt Bush came on to work the 7th inning, and managed to work his way around a walk, striking out two Houston hitters. Had he not accumulated 22 pitches, he might have been brought back out for the 8th inning.
- As it was, Jake Diekman came in and worked a 1-2-3 8th, with two strikeouts.
- Sam Dyson came on for the 9th inning in his second appearance in the closer role. Leading off the inning? Jose Altuve. Dyson induced a chopper back to the mound, another chopper back to the mound on George Springer, and struck out Carlos Correa to save the 2-1 win.
- Texas has now taken yet another series from Houston, and will go for a series sweep tomorrow at 1:10 PM with Cole Hamels facing off against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel.