Wednesday brought some good news for the Astros' pitching hopes down the stretch, with a successful simulated game by Justin Verlander as he works toward a return to the roster, followed by seven sparkling innings of the real thing from righthander Lance McCullers against the Rangers.
Houston’s bats, however, had little to offer against Rangers starter Kyle Gibson, who held the Astros to four hits in a complete game performance, and the Rangers broke through in the ninth against closer Ryan Pressly for a 1-0 win at Minute Maid Park.
The Rangers managed just three hits through eight, but Leody Taveras reached in the ninth when his sharply hit grounder to first bounced off Yuli Gurriel’s chest and Gurriel was unable to field the ball and beat the speedy Taveras to the bag.
Pressly struck out Willie Calhoun, and Taveras took second on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s grounder to first and scored on Gallo’s fly down the right field line that bounced into the stands for a run-scoring double.
Staked to a lead in the ninth, Gibson came out for the bottom of the inning and got Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley on called third strikes before Alex Bregman doubled into the left field corner.
Kyle Tucker launched a 98.4 mph liner toward right, but it was tracked down by first baseman Ronald Guzman, who left his feet to make the catch and complete Gibson’s complete game shutout.
The loss dropped the Astros to 24-25 on the season as they continue to cling to a narrow lead over the Mariners for the second and final playoff spot in the American League West.
Astros manager Dusty Baker has noted on several occasions in this difficult season the degree to which the Astros have been bitten by opponents breaking through with two strikes or two outs, and this one particularly stung given the nature of the playoff race.
“It really hurts to lose 1-0, especially with a ball hit on the line by Joey Gallo after we had two strikes on him,” Baker said. “This has happened repeatedly to us with two strikes. It’s not easy to hit with two strikes and get two-out RBIs.
“It’s been very unfortunate in that respect. We haven’t had nearly as many two-out RBIs as (opponents) have. If we keep fighting, we’re going to get more of our share. They say things even out, but it’s not even close to even right now.”
McCullers, in his return from the injured list with neck nerve irritation, retired 21 of 23 hitters through seven innings with eight strikeouts and no walks but was matched out for out and beyond by Gibson, who entered with a 1-5 record and 6.14 ERA.
Gibson allowed three hits through eight innings and got a boost from two Astros baserunners who were thrown out on attempted steals by catcher Jeff Mathis. He finished with nine strikeouts and three walks.
The Astros had three baserunners in the first but failed to score and what turned out to be their best chance against Gibson.
George Springer had a first-pitch base hit to left but was thrown out attempting to steal second. Altuve and Bregman walked around a Michael Brantley fly out, and Tucker took a called third strike to end the inning.
McCullers retired the first five batters before allowing the Rangers’ first base hit, a double down the right field line by Rougned Odor. He retired the next 12 before Taveras dumped an opposite-field double to left with two out in the sixth but retired Calhoun on a popup to shortstop Carlos Correa to end the inning.
He threw 86 pitches, 61 for strikes, and 12 swings and misses, including nine on his curveball as he continued his successful run this season at Minute Maid Park.
“It was a solid effort,” McCullers said afterward in brief remarks. “I’m sad we couldn’t get the team win. That is what we care about.”
After the Astros had three baserunners in the first inning, Gibson was essentially untouchable the rest of the way. He allowed three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Kyle Tucker was given on a hit on a grounder that went under the glove of Rangers shortstop Anderson Tejada into the shift in the seventh inning, but he was thrown out trying to steal second.
Josh James allowed a hit with two strikeouts in the eighth in relief of McCullers, and Pressly allowed the game’s only run in the ninth before Enoli Paredes got the final out of the inning.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, Verlander threw a 24-pitch simulated game in his first return to Minute Maid Park since going on the injured list after the season opener in late July.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said he was encouraged by Verlander’s performance but said it was too early to speculate if he could return to the active roster before the end of the regular season.
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