ARLINGTON, Texas (KNTU) Shin-Soo Choo and Elvis Andrus combined to drive in five runs, helping the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 11-10 at Globe Life Park on Sunday, April 21.
The Astros (13-8) went down 10-1 through four innings, but stormed back with five runs in the sixth and brought the game to within three, going into the ninth.
It was a memorable day for the Rangers (12-8). Joey Gallo had a career day with a five RBIs and the first sacrifice fly of his career. The Rangers also hit back-to-back home runs for the first time this season.
“I thought it was unusual just because [Gallo] hits so many fly balls, you know? He’s not a ground ball guy,” Rangers managers Gary Woodward said. “To never have hit a sac fly, I was surprised when I heard it. I was not aware of it when I got here, there have been a lot of situations lately where he has had the opportunity, and I felt like with the way he is mentally right now is great.”
It’s been a tough start to the season for starting pitcher Shelby Miller, who is coming off missing a year due to Tommy John’s surgery. He was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in his first three starts for the Rangers and 0-6 with a 9.60 ERA in his last nine Major League outings since his last win on April 18, 2017. He pitched 5.1 innings and only allowed four runs on five hits.
With the game at 11-10, Shawn Kelly came in for beleaguered closer Jose LeClerc with little time to prepare and delivered the last out of the game to seal the victory. LeClerc walked three batters and allowed two runs.
Andrus and Choo continue to be the undoubted leaders of the team, and their presence at the top of the order is allowing the Rangers to score runs early and often as they fight to stay competitive in the American League West.
“From top to bottom, everybody is on it and doing their job,” Andrus said. “Something as a team that I think we are doing a good job of is playing good baseball against our division, especially this division getting so tough, and every team is so good this year; it’s great for us to compete and win series against them.”
