Yu Darvish (0-0, -.--) vs Lucas Harrell (0-0, -.--)
TGFMG - thank God for Marwin Gonzalez! That almost sucked a whole lot more than it ultimately did, until Marwin the Magnificent broke up Yu Darvish's perfect game attempt with a two-out single in the 9th. Nevertheless, the Rangers exacted their revenge for Opening Day, sending Houston to a decidedly one-sided 7-0 defeat.
On the Mound:
*Lucas Harrell got his 2013 season off to a fine start, but unfortunately no one was going to beat Darvish tonight. Lucas allowed only one run (on a Lance Berkman RBI single) over six innings pitched, and finished with a 6 IP / 6 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 2 BB / 4 K line.
*After Harrell left, Texas tacked on two more runs in each of the remaining three innings against a parade of Houston relievers. They lit up Xavier Cedeno (0.1 IP, 1 ER) and Rhiner Cruz (0.2 IP, 1 ER) in the 7th, Wesley Wright (0.2 IP, 2 ER) in the 8th, and Jose Veras (1 IP, 2 ER) in the 9th.
*Only Josh Fields (0.1 IP, K) escaped the bullpen unscathed, in his major league debut.
*After Harrell left, Texas tacked on two more runs in each of the remaining three innings against a parade of Houston relievers. They lit up Xavier Cedeno (0.1 IP, 1 ER) and Rhiner Cruz (0.2 IP, 1 ER) in the 7th, Wesley Wright (0.2 IP, 2 ER) in the 8th, and Jose Veras (1 IP, 2 ER) in the 9th.
*Only Josh Fields (0.1 IP, K) escaped the bullpen unscathed, in his major league debut.
At the Plate:
*TGFMG. Marwin led the Astros' offensive attack (ha), singling to center on Darvish's first pitch after 8.2 perfect. He finished 1 for 3 with a K.
*With the perfect game gone, so went Darvish, and Jose Altuve followed Marwin's heroic last stand with a single of his own off reliever Michael Kirkman. Altuve ended up 1 for 4 with 2 K.
*The rest of Houston's lineup combined to go 0 for 22 with 12 K. Yeah... it was like that.
*With the perfect game gone, so went Darvish, and Jose Altuve followed Marwin's heroic last stand with a single of his own off reliever Michael Kirkman. Altuve ended up 1 for 4 with 2 K.
*The rest of Houston's lineup combined to go 0 for 22 with 12 K. Yeah... it was like that.
Turning Point:
Marwin the Man! Really, Yu Darvish made sure that this one was all Rangers, all the way. After Berkman drove in Craig Gentry in the 3rd, the Astros were officially done.
Man of the Match:
Marwin Gonzalez, for saving the Astros from an inevitable crush of national media "WE TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!"s.
Goat of the Game:
Every Astro not named Marwin.
