Rangers vs Astros summary online: stats, scores and highlights | MLB ALCS Game 2 highlights
Rangers survive Astros clawback in Game 2
Rangers bend but don't break as Astros fall just short
The life of a Texas Rangers fan is one of uncertainty and doubt. No lead is enough, no opponent out of the game. It is an existence of heart palpitations and second guessing.
The life of a Houston Astros fan is the opposite. No matter how many games behind the Astros fall, no matter how many runs they need to make up, there is a confident swagger about the place. The Astros can win at any time, and against any team.
As the ALCS moves from Minute Maid up to Arlington, the Rangers have taken both of the first two games. They have won on the road in Houston, which is no mean feat. And yet, these two characteristics hold true. The Rangers don't feel like the team in the drivers seat, and the Astros certainly don't have the air of a team on the brink.
In order to get those two wins, a lot of chinks were revealed in the Rangers pitching, as well as a few flaws in their attack. Both starters, Montgomery and Eovaldi, were outstanding, but the bullpen is thin and the closing capability is shaky at best.
In contrast, the Astros did a lot of things right, although taking both losses. They held the number one offense in the American League to only seven runs in two games. Apart from the first inning tonight, the Astros in fact blanked the Rangers for great stretches. And most importantly, the Astros offense were able to claw their way back into the game. They fell just short, to be sure, but they now know that there is a road back.
The Rangers should be driving this series firmly, and have yet to lose a single game in the post season. They have won all seven that they have played and in fact have only trailed for a single inning throughout the playoffs.
Playoff baseball now heads back to Arlington and the fans in Dallas are hungry for it, ready to come out in force. The Rangers could sweep in front of their home crowd and that should have them feeling on top of the world. But somehow, there is an unease about them.
The first inning showed what the Rangers offense is capable of, jumping on Framber Valdez and spraying the ball all over the field, hitting single after single to push runs around the base paths. They scored four runs on the first eight balls thrown, and it that doesn't say potency then nothing does.
But that was the last that the Rangers would threaten in any real way. They fell into a defensive mindset and only the tit-for-tat solo shot by Jonah Heim in the third broke the mold. Even as Houston clawed their way back one run at a time, the Rangers seemed content to simply hold on.
The problem is, against a team as talented as the Houston Astros, you can't simply hold on. They will beat you to the punch every time.
Game 3 will see the return of one of the best pitchers in the game, Mad Max Scherzer. He has been out injured for nearly six weeks and while word is that he is good to go, he may come in on a strict pitch count or even worse.
As a Dodger a couple of years ago, Max suffered dead arm and had to leave an NLCS game in its early stages. Of course, there is no indication that anything like that will happen again, but it is just to highlight the reality of autumn baseball. Injuries have a way of nagging. The unexpected can and does crop up. With a couple of outings under his belt, this would not be a conversation but as his first game back, Max Scherzer is still a question mark.
On the other side of the equation, the Astros will field Christian Javier who has been outstanding in recent weeks. Again, Astros fans have reason to breathe much easier than do Rangers fans.
Goodbye!
That is going to do it for our live coverage of ALCS Game 2 between the Rangers and Astros. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did!
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We will return tomorrow with Game 2 of the MLCS as the Diamondbacks take on the Phillies.
Until then, good night and God bless!
Rangers win!
José Altuve up now and Leclerc pitches around him, running the count to 3-1 before Altuve lifts one to center field for Leody Taveras. He puts it away and Texas win it. What a nail biter!
Yainer Díaz the hitter and he rips a hard shot to third. Josh Jung smothers it, makes the strong throw across the diamond and gets him. Two away.
Bottom 9th
José Leclerc comes out for the Rangers in the ninth to close things out and will face Jeremy Peña to lead off. Peña takes a strike before chasing a slider for strike two. In a hole, 0-2, Peña blasts a shot to right! Long, back, to the track, to the wall, and Adolis Garcia gets to it to put it away for an out!
That was a big ride, but not quite far enough. One down
Evan Carter the hitter and he falls behind quickly 0-2. Pressly delivers a ball that juuuussst misses. 1-2.
Two more foul balls and another ball brings the count to 2-2. Another ball sees it full once again.
The payoff delivery is chopped to second. Altuve is there and makes the throw to first to end the innning.
Corey Seager up now and he chops a lazy one to first. Abreu fields it and steps on the bag. Two away. Taveras advances to third.
Semien gets the count to 2-2 before swinging at a change up that the bottom fell out of for the first out.
Marcus Semien the hitter and the second pitch gets away from Pressly, going back to the backstop. Taveras takes second.
Top 9th
Leody Taveras will lead off for Texas and he takes a four-pitch walk to get things going.
Pitching change
Dusty Baker brings on Ryan Pressly to slam the door on any Rangers hope of adding to their lead.
Chas McCormick up now with the tying run in scoring position. He rips one to third. Jung bobbles it but recovers and steps on the bag to end the eighth! The Rangers got out of that by the skin of their teeth!
Michael Brantley the hitter and Leclerc can't find the zone, missing four straight and walking two hitters in a row.
José Abreu up now for Houston to face Leclerc. Abreu draws the four pitch walk.
Pitching change
Bruce Bochy is not hanging around. That is going to do it for Aroldis Chapman and Jose Leclerc will come out to take over and try and shut this Astros comeback down.
YORDAN ALVAREZ HOME RUN
Yordan Álvarez now and he jumps on the first pitch, crushing it to right field for another solo shot! The lead is cut to one!
Kyle Tucker up now and he runs the count full. The payoff from Chapman is hit sharply to second but right at Marcus Semien. The throw to first makes it two away.
Bottom 8th
Alex Bregman leads off for the Astros in the eighth and jumps on the first pitch, ripping it to center, but Leody Taveras is there for out number one.
Pitching change
Aroldis Chapman will come out now for Texas to take over the pitching duties.
Josh Jung up now and he gets lucky on ball three, it really caught the bottom of the zone. With the count full, Abreu comes back at him with a beautiful slider for strike three to end the inning.
Nathaniel Lowe jumps on the first pitch and pops it into shallow center. Jeremy Peña drifts back and hauls it in for the second out.
Top 8th
Jonah Heim will lead things off for the Rangers and he gets whiffed on three breaking balls. One down.
Pitching change
The Astros will bring on Bryan Abreu to replace Phil Maton on the mound.
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José Altuve up now and he works the count full. The payoff from Sborz is a lovely curve that jelly legs Altuve! Called strike three and you don't see that very often!
Yainer Díaz the hitter now and he rolls a chopper to short. Seager's throw gets him. Two down.
Bottom 7th
Jeremy Peña will lead things off for the Astros and he rips a shot to shortstop for Corey Seager. The throw to first is in time. One down
Pitching change
Nathan Eovaldi will hit the showers as Bruce Bochy will dip into the Rangers bullpen and call on Josh Sborz to take over on the mound.
Mitch Garver up now and he taps one back toward the mound. Maton fields it and flips it to first to end the inning.
Adolis Garcia up to the plate to face the new pitcher and he bounces a slow roller to third. The throw from Bregman gets him as Carter advances to second. Two out.
Pitching change
That will be it from JP France. Dusty Baker goes to the pen and calls on Phil Maton to take over.
Evan Carter the hitter now and another full count by France draws another payoff delivery. This one misses low and Carter draws the walk.
Top 7th
Corey Seager will lead off for the Rangers and he works the count full before the payoff from France is a beauty of a curve and Seager can't hold up on the check swing for strike three.
Chas McCormick up now and Eovaldi delivers three splitters, getting the swing and miss on each of them to end the inning.
Houston strand one but they pull a run back and trail now 5-3.
RBI Double - Astros score
Michael Brantley the hitter now and he jumps on the second pitch, sending it to the gap in left center. It falls in and Álvarez rounds the bases from first. He rounds third and the throw is not in time! The Astros claw one back!
José Abreu the hitter and he gets the opposite treatment from Eovaldi, going down swinging on three pitches. Two away
Yordan Álvarez up now and he draws the walk on five pitches.
Bottom 6th
Kyle Tucker will lead off for the Astros and Eovaldi gets him swinging on three straight for the first out.
Unassisted Double Play
Marcus Semien now with a runner on third and one out. He jumps on the second pitch and hits it right on the screws but directly at Alex Bregman, standing near the third base bag. Bregman steps on the bag to get Taveras and the inning ends on an unassisted double play!
Triple
Leody Taveras the hitter and he works the count to 2-2 before ripping a hard shot to the gap in center! It falls in and Taveras can really fly and is in with a triple!
Top 6th
The Astros will come out with Yainer Diaz taking over behind the plate. Josh Jung leads off for the Rangers and falls back in the count 0-2 before liftiing a fly ball to center for Chas McCormick. One out.
Alex Bregman up now and he chops one to third. Jung fields it cleanly this time and guns it to first for the final out. Somehow, the Astros had bases loaded and no outs and came away without scoring!
At the end of five, it is still Texas 5, Houston 2
José Altuve the hitter now with bases loaded and one out. He falls behind quickly 0-2 before a great splitter gets a swing and miss! Back to back strikeouts for Eovaldi.
Díaz gets the count to 2-2 before fouling a couple off. The delivery from Eovaldi is a curve that gets Díaz to chase for strike three. One away.
Pinch hitter
Dusty Baker will send in Yainer Diaz to hit for Martin Maldonado. There are signs of life now in the Rangers bullpen. This is the first real pressure that Eovaldi has been under today.
Peña has runners on first and second with no outs. He bounces one to third base and Josh Jung bobbles it! Everyone is safe!
Josh Jung has made some outstanding plays today and that evened the balance.
Jeremy Peña the hitter now and Mike Maddux will trot out to speak to Eovaldi. They are not making a change, just talking strategy.
Chas McCormick up now and rips one up the middle for back to back leadoff singles. The Astros are on the march and the tying run is up to the plate.
Bottom 5th
Michael Brantley leads off for Houston in the fifth and he works the count full before the payoff delivery is looped into left center for a single.
Nathaniel Lowe up now and he hits a long shot to center. Chas McCormick is back to the track, to the wall, and makes the catch to end the inning!
Jonah Heim the hitter and he lifts a high fly ball to right field. Kyle Tucker, shielding his eyes from the afternoon sun, makes the catch for out number two.
Top 5th
Mitch Garver leads off for Texas and pops one up to third for Alex Bregman in foul territory. One away.
Pitching change
Dusty Baker will go to his bullpen again and call on J. P. France to take over from Rafael Montero.
José Abreu up now and after missing the first two for balls, Eovaldi gets two called strikes to work his way back into the count. The 2-2 is a curve ball that just bottoms out as Abreu goes down swinging.
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Yordan Álvarez to hit now and he watches a backdoor breaking ball for strike three.
Kyle Tucker jumps on the first delivery and pops out to third baseman Josh Jung.
Bottom 4th
Alex Bregman will get things going for Houston in the fourth and he lines a bullet off the left field foul pole for a leadoff home run! That was still going up when it crossed the fence!
Bregman claws one back for the Astros!
Adolis Garcia the hitter and he chases three high fastballs to go down swinging.
Evan Carter up now and this is his first at bat today. He lifts a high one into left field but Michael Brantley is there to put it away. Two down.
Top 4th
Corey Seager will lead off for the Rangers and he goes after the second pitch, lining a shot to center. Chas McCormick on the run, dives and makes the catch! Great play by McCormick.
Jose Altuve the hitter now and he jumps on the first pitch, grounding it sharply to shortstop. Corey Seager fields it, spins and throws to first to end the inning. The Astros go 1-2-3 in the third.
Texas 5, Houston 1
Martín Maldonado up now and he goes down swinging on three pitches. Two out.
Peña works the count full before Eovaldi's payoff delivery is lifted out to right field but directly at Adolis Garcia for out number one.
Bottom 3rd
The Rangers will come out with a defensive substitution as Evan Carter takes over in left field for Robbie Grossman.
Jeremy Peña will lead off for the Astros.
Semien gets the count up to 2-2 before a high fastball catches him out. He couldn't ever catch up with it and goes down swinging.
Stolen base
The top of the Rangers order will be up now as Marcus Semien faces the new pitcher. On the 1-1 delivery, Leody Taveras takes off and is just in there ahead of an outstanding throw from Maldonado.
Pitching change
That is all that Dusty Baker needs to see. Framber Valdez will be done for the night, after a turgid outing from him. Baker signals to the bullpen for Rafael Montero.
Leody Taveras up now and is walked on five pitches.
Josh Jung the batter and he goes down swinging, again on that outstanding curve ball. Two down
Nathaniel Lowe up now and he fouls off three before swinging through a big looping curve ball for strike three.
Top 3rd
Jonah Heim will lead off for the Rangers and he lifts one to deep left. It is going, going, gone! Jonah Heim powers it out and pulls that run right back for Texas!
Chas McCormick up now and he rips the first pitch down the third base line. Josh Jung dives and gets it! He makes the throw from deep in the hole and gets McCormick in a bang-bang play! What a defensive play by Josh Jung!
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Michael Brantley the hitter and he watches three strikes go by.
José Abreu up now and he grounds one to third. Jung's throw is in time for out number one, but this Houston crowd has come back to life!
Bottom 2nd
Yordan Álvarez will lead things off for the Astros in the second and he blasts a bomb into the upper deck! That thing should have had a stewardess on it!
The Astros are on the board, and emphatically!
Mitch Garver the hitter now and he falls behind 0-2 quickly. The pitch from Valdez is that sweet curve that gets Garver swinging for strike three to end the inning.
Hit by pitch
Adolis Garcia up now and he works the countto 2-2 before the pitch hits him on the foot.
Robbie Grossman the hitter and he chops the first pitch to short. A slow roller, Peña goes to second for the out, but that is all they will get. Two gone.
Corey Seager up now and he works the count full. Valdez delivers a fastball low and away getting Seager to chase it for strike three. One away.
Top 2nd
Back to the top of the Rangers order and Marcus Semien leads off with another single! Same pitch hit to the same spot!
Kyle Tucker up now and he rips a shot right on the screws but directly at Nathaniel Lowe at first to end the inning.
Alex Bregman the batter now and he chops the first pitch toward third. Josh Jung makes a bullet of a throw and gets him for the second out.
Another of each brings the count to 2-2. Altuve fouls off another before another ball runs the count full. Evo's payoff is lifted to deep right field but Adolis Garcia is able to get to it for out number one.
Bottom 1st
The Rangers take the field now and Nathan Eovaldi will be on the mound. He will face José Altuve to lead off for the Astros. The first pitch misses for a ball high and Altuve rips the second hard but foul.
Leody Taveras up now and works the count full. Valdez's payoff delivery is lifted to center field for Chas McCormick. That is the end of the inning, but the Rangers have jumped out to a four run lead!
Jung works the count to 2-2 before chasing a peach of a curveball that just fell off the table for strike three. Two down now.
Josh Jung the hitter with runners on first and second and one out. There is activity in the Astros bullpen now.
Rangers score
Nathaniel Lowe up now and he rips a single into left field. Garcia rounds third and the throw is cut off. The Rangers add another one!
Heim foul tips one on the third strike and his called out even though the ball clearly hit the ground. The Astros get a break there.
Jonah Heim up now with Garcia on second and Garver on first. There are still no outs.
Rangers score
Mitch Garver the hitter now and he lines the second delivery into left field for yet another single! Grossman scores from third!
The Rangers are now up 3-0!
This game has started like a machine gun! Framber Valdez has thrown eight pitches and the Rangers have two runs and runners on the corners with nobody out!
Rangers score
Adolis Garcia up now and he rips the first pitch into right field for a single! Corey Seager scores! Robbie Grossman goes to third.
Rangers score
Robbie Grossman up now with runners on first and second and no outs. Valdez misses with two in the dirt before Grossman fouls one off. Valdez finds that bottom rung for a called strike two. The 2-2 delivery is tapped to the mound. Valdez bobbles it and goes to first, throwing wild!
Semien scores! Seager goes to third and Grossman winds up at second on the throwing error.
Corey Seager the hitter now and he jumps on the first pitch, dropping a little blooper into left for another single. Two pitches, two baserunners!
First Pitch
Now back in Houston, the teams are ready and the Astros are on the field. Framber Valdez is on the mound and ready to go. He will face Marcus Semien to lead things off for the Rangers and both teams will see this game, if not exactly as a "must" win, certainly as a key to setting up their ALCS road.
The home plate umpire signals to play ball and Valdez delivers a sinker that Semien squirts throught short for a leadoff single.
And we are off!
Sad News
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LINEUPS
The Home Team
Astros Batting Order
1. Altuve (2B) *R
2. Bregman (3B) *R
3. Tucker (RF) *L
3. Álvarez (DH) *L
5. Abreu (1B) *R
6. Brantley (LF) *L
7. McCormick (LF) *R
2. Peña (SS) *R
9. Maldonado (C) *R
The Visitors
Rangers Batting Order
1. Semien (2B) *R
2. Seager (SS) *L
3. Grossman (LF) *S
4. García (RF) *R
5. Garver (DH) *R
6. Heim (C) *S
7. Lowe (1B) *L
8. Jung (3B) *R
9. Taveras (CF) *S
STARTING PITCHERS REGULAR SEASON STATS
HOUSTON ASTROS
Framber Valdez (LHP)
12 - 11
3.45 ERA
200 K
198.0 IP
1.13 WHIP
TEXAS RANGERS
Nathan Eovaldi (RHP)
12 - 5
3.63 ERA
132 K
144.0 IP
1.14 WHIP
PITCHING
The Astros will start Framber Valdez who has been a solid rock in this rotation all season, but has struggled in the playoffs, giving up five runs in 4.1 innings against the Twins in the ALDS and helming Houston’s only loss.
The Rangers will field Nathan Eovaldi, who has the inverse story, falling into averageness over the late part of the regular season, but finding his stellar form in the playoffs, giving up two runs on 13.2 innings pitched.
WELCOME!!!
Welcome to the Diario AS USA live commentary of Game 2 of this historic All-Texas ALCS matchup between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros from Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
The Rangers are riding high coming into Game 2 of the ALCS series, having won a contest that at times looked like a grind in Game 1. Heading back to Arlington with two games in their pocket would suit them down to the ground.
The Astros aren’t exactly reeling, knowing that one loss does not a panic-situation make. But they are in a place that they would rather not be in. They have come back from deficits, even two game ones, in the past, and are nothing if not confident in their abilities.
After all, the Astros took nine of thirteen regular season meetings between these two, so they have no fear of anything that the Rangers can throw at them.
Even during the loss of Game 1, at no point did the Astros feel like they were out of it. Loading the bases multiple times, they were always just a base hit away from levelling the score. A few inches longer, or a few yards to the left or right, on an Alex Bregman shot to left field would have done the same thing, not to mention an out-of-character base running error by José Altuve.
But the thing is that the Rangers that the Astros are facing tonight bear little resemblance to the Rangers that the Astros faced in the regular season. They have found their stride and have yet to lose a game in the post season.
If either team is thinking that this game, or any game of the ALCS for that matter, is a foregone conclusion then they have a rude awakening in store.
For as good as any other team in either league may be, the fact of the matter is that this is the World Series, right now. These two teams are the best two teams in the game and this, right here right now, is the decisive series.