Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Match Player Stats On Apr 01, 2019

Brad Peacock, making his return to the starting rotation after spending 2018 in the bullpen, surrendered just two hits in 6 2/3 innings to help the visiting Houston Astros snap a three-game skid and squeak past the Texas Rangers 2-1 on Monday night.

Peacock (1-0), who struck out five and walked none in picking up the win, allowed a game-tying solo home run in the third inning to Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman, and a seventh-inning infield single to Rougned Odor that second baseman Jose Altuve nearly stabbed.

Odor was quickly erased trying to steal second, and after Peacock struck out Elvis Andrus for the second out, Astros manager A.J. Hinch decided to pull Peacock after 86 pitches.

Ryan Pressly was flawless over the next 1 1/3 innings to take the Astros into the ninth nursing the one-run lead. Closer Roberto Osuna earned his first save of the season with a perfect inning.

Houston, which scored just four runs in losing the final three games of their season-opening series at Tampa Bay, still couldn't get its high-octane offense in gear despite a promising start when George Springer belted a homer to start the game.

But that was all the Astros could muster until former Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos dropped a flare down the left-field line for a double to score Carlos Correa, who doubled to right-center to start the sixth inning.

Rangers starter Drew Smyly made his first return to a big-league mound since 2016. On the mend from Tommy John surgery, Smyly gave up the Springer homer, but worked through the Astros' lineup well enough to leave the game after three innings and 73 pitches tied at 1-1. Smyly gave up four hits, walked two and struck out two.

Reliever Adrian Sampson (0-1), brought up from Triple-A Nashville earlier in the day, was the hard-luck loser. He managed to keep Texas in striking distance with hopes the Rangers could put together some late-game magic as they did in beating the Chicago Cubs on Saturday and Sunday. Sampson went the rest of the way, pitching six strong innings and giving up just the one run in the sixth, on four hits and two walks, while recording three strikeouts.

--Field Level Media