Field Level Media
May 16, 2021
Chas McCormick produced a two-run single as part of a four-run eighth inning and the Houston Astros capped a four-game series sweep of the visiting Texas Rangers with a 6-2 win Sunday.
The Astros loaded the bases with one out against Rangers reliever Joely Rodriguez (1-2) before Yuli Gurriel snapped a 2-2 tie with a sacrifice fly that scored Jose Altuve, who singled twice and extended his hitting streak to 11 games. McCormick followed by driving home Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman to chase Rodriguez, who labored while throwing 30 pitches in the eighth.
The Rangers, winless on a six-game road trip for the first time since 1991, had pulled even in the seventh after David Dahl hit a two-run homer off Astros reliever Andre Scrubb.
Rangers right-hander Kyle Gibson produced his eighth consecutive quality start, limiting the Astros to two runs on four hits - all singles - and two walks with three strikeouts over seven innings.
Houston strung together three singles in the bottom of the first, with Bregman delivering an RBI single that scored Michael Brantley for a 1-0 lead. Gibson followed by retiring 10 of 11 batters, with Myles Straw reaching on a two-out error by Rangers shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the second inning.
Correa added a run-scoring fielder's choice in the fifth inning but Gibson handled Houston once more.
Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. retired Texas in order in the first and fifth innings and induced timely double-play grounders in the third and fourth to snuff Rangers threats.
Nate Lowe and Joey Gallo recorded back-to-back singles to open the fourth but McCullers responded by getting Adolis Garcia to roll into a 4-6-3 double play. McCullers pulled another escape act in his final frame, allowing a leadoff double to Nick Solak and then uncorking a wild pitch that advanced Solak to third base with no outs and the Astros clinging to a 1-0 lead.
McCullers followed with a strikeout of Lowe before getting Gallo to hit a pop fly to shallow center.
McCullers capped his outing when Garcia hit a harmless fly ball to center, allowing five hits and issuing two walks while striking out five over six scoreless innings. It marked his fifth outing allowing one run or fewer this season, including a second scoreless start since April 30.
--Field Level Media