September 7, 2022 - Game 136
W - Hector Neris (5-4)
L - Jonathan Hernández (1-2)
S- None
HR: TEX: Lowe (24); HOU: Tucker (24)
Time of Game: 3:37
Game Recap
After a spirited win snapping the nine-game skid, the Rangers and Astros met for the three-game series finale and the season series finale. The day's big news was the anticipation that Josh Jung was getting the call-up for Friday's contest against the Blue Jays. For Wednesday's game, a notable was Nick Solak getting his first look since his call-up on September 1st. "[I want him to] compete," Tony Beasley said about Nick Solak and what he wants to see in the final month. "I know he hasn't played much since he's come up. I need to get him some ABs. [Go out, compete, and give us quality at-bats and be productive for us." Nick Solak went 1 for 4 and reached base twice Wednesday. Cole Ragans came back from the injured list to take the mound. His anticipated workload was lighter due to Ragans returning from the injured list. Meanwhile, the Astros sent Cristian Javier to the mound on Wednesday.
Nathaniel Lowe launched a Javier slider over the right field wall in the first inning to put the Rangers up 1-0 early. Then, in the third, Texas added a couple more. First, Marcus Semien lobbed an opposite-field single to right field scoring Solak, who reached on an error by Jeremy Peña. Then, with two outs and two strikes, Kole Calhoun slashed a single up the middle scoring Semien and putting the Rangers up 3-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Astros walked twice, but Ragans got Peña to strikeout, and Sam Huff gunned down Christian Vasquez trying to steal third to end the frame. The Rangers also had two walks in the sixth, but Duran grounded softly to Vasquez, and Huff flew out to left field to keep the game 3-1 Texas.
The Astros tied it up in the sixth as Kyle Tucker homered to right field, scoring Alex Bregman. Once again, the Astros damage against Rangers pitching came with two outs. Texas had a chance to take the lead in the seventh with two one and none out. However, Semien hit into a double play, and Corey Seager grounded out, which kept the game even. Houston had runners at the corners and two outs, but Tucker flew out hard to center field on what was an eleven pitch at-bat. In extras, the Rangers couldn't move Solak past second base. Meanwhile the Astros, loaded the bases in the tenth due to two intentional walks. A wild pitch by Jonathan Hernández scored Altuve and completed the game in ten innings with another one-run lost. "Those are tough pitches to block," Tony Beasley said about Sam Huff. "You could argue that [Sam] is trying to block it instead of pick it, but very difficult pitches to block. The one Brett Martin threw early got the guy to second and they got the base hit to score him. That bounced way in front and [Sam] tried to block it. That's nothing on Huff, we have to make better pitches in these scenarios. Huff has done a good job. He's caught good games and called good games. [Huff has] done a good job behind the plate as far as calling the game."
Cole Ragans's first start since mid-August went decent. The command was a little off with three walks in the evening. However, Ragans managed forty-nine pitches while not allowing a hit or run against the Houston Astros. "I saw what I saw in Round Rock," Sam Huff told me. "I got with him early, talk with him on what he wants to do, execute, and go from there. He did good."
Brett Martin came in the fourth. With two outs, Martin walked Tucker, who advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a single. It was a one-inning outing for Brett. Dennis Santana retired all four batters he faced with two strikeouts on the night. John King came in with one out in the sixth. He allowed a single and a home run in the inning. Then in the seventh allowed a single that wiped away as Kole Calhoun's throw doubled off Trey Mancini. Jesús Tinoco walked the leadoff hitter Altuve who moved to third base. Tinoco walked another hitter, but was able to work out of the inning unharmed. Jonathan Hernández retired the side in the ninth, but in the tenth a wild pitch with the bases loaded (and two intentional walks) ended the game. "Try to keep it simple," Huff told me in calling the last two games. "It's definitely what we're dealt with. I think everyone is doing great regardless of what happens. They come in and do their job and some pitches here and there that we want to do different. But overall, they've been outstanding."
Postgame Notes
The Rangers end up 5-14 vs. the Houston Astros in 2022. They've lost 29 of their last 34 at Minute Maid Park.
Nathaniel Lowe has a hit in twelve of his last fourteen games, with six home runs in that span.
Kyle Tucker finishes the season series vs. the Rangers with a .338 average (23 for 68). He hit five home runs with twenty runs driven in and an OPS of .980.
The forty-nine pitches for Cole Ragans is the smallest pitch count since July 18th, 2021, when Ragans move from High-A Hickory to Double-A Frisco.
Marcus Semien extended his on-base streak to nineteen games on Wednesday with a single in the second.
Wednesday was the fifth appearance at Minute Maid Park for John King. The home run was the first runs allowed in the ballpark (2.25 career ERA at MMP).
Corey Seager is hitless in his last twenty-three at-bats.
Brett Martin's wild pitch was the 59th wild pitch by the Rangers (2nd in MLB). Though 59 is seventeen behind the Kansas City Royals (76).
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