Erik Bedard (3-9, 4.49) vs Derek Holland (9-6, 2.95)
Only too ready to be done with these Rangers games. Max Stassi earns his first RBI and leaves his second big league game after getting hit in the face by a pitch, and Chia-Jen Lo finally gives up his first big league run. Stassi's RBI tied the game, but Lo's run lost it, and Houston gets swept 5-4 on the walkoff. They head into the travel day 41-85 overall.
On the Mound:
*Erik Bedard never went more than four innings before May 11, but since then he had only gone less than 5 once, until his last start - and now tonight. A pitch count of 92 and trouble in the 5th ended his night with a 4.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 2 ER / 4 BB / 2 K line.
*David Martinez got to make his ML debut, and it was another good one, allowing only a single an an unearned run in 2.2 IP.
*Chia-Jen Lo came in the game for a perfect 8th, but quickly got himself into trouble in the 9th, loading the bases before Elvis Andrus' sac fly gave the Rangers the win.
At the Plate:
*Texas' 4-2 lead was looking insurmountable and the offense was looking anemic until Tanner Scheppers came in for the 8th for a Wild Thing-esque performance. Jason Castro had himself a good night before that, though, going 2 for 3 with a solo HR (#15), a BB, and 3 R.
*What a way to start your big league career, Max Stassi. 2 for 3 last night (with one egregious baserunning blunder), then 0 for 3 with a K tonight, but he came up with the bases loaded in the 8th. A Scheppers pitch appeared to glance off his shoulder before hitting him square in the face, forcing him from the game with a towel over his bleeding nose. He walked off on his own power and will spend the night at the hospital.
*L.J. Hoes went 2 for 4 with a walk.
*Jose Altuve went 1 for 5 with a K and scored the other Astros run.
*Marwin Gonzalez went 1 for 4 with a double, but also committed the throwing error that led to Texas' fourth run.
*Robbie Grossman was 1 for 5 with a K, but a fielding error of his own led to another UER.
Turning Point:
Mitch Moreland started the Texas 9th with a single off Chia-Jen Lo, and Jurickson Profar followed with a walk. After Craig Gentry pop-up, another walk to Leonys Martin loaded the bases for Elvis Andrus. Andrus lofted Lo's 1-0 pitch into short left field, but Robbie Grossman airmailed the throw home, allowing pinch-runner Adam Rosales to slide home safely with the winning run.
Man of the Match:
Jason Castro. Even Biggio never had 15 home runs as an Astros catcher.
Goat of the Game:
Co-goats to Grossman and Gonzalez. If those unearned runs don't score, Stassi's face wins the game for Houston.
