Texas (75-67) was on the verge of being only a half game back, but the Astros (77-66) rallied with five runs in the ninth inning Sunday for a 5-3 victory at the Los Angeles Angels. Lewis has pitched 50 playoff innings in two deep playoff runs.
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But despite arriving at their respective spots in the standings through distinctly different paths, the Texas twosome went into Monday’s opener of a four-game series 1-2 in the standings, creating a heightened level of baseball interest in a region that typically turns its eyes toward football at this time of year. Astros setup man Will Harris entered with one out in the eighth and allowed a single to Adrian Beltre before Fielder belted a drive that sailed past a swirling wind and over the center-field fence.
New York’s ace hails all the way from Japan and has struggled to solidify his place atop the rotation due to injury since traveling to the states.
MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Cardinals have activated outfielder Matt Holliday from the 15-day disabled list in time for tonight’s game against Milwaukee.
The Rangers trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth inning but scored two runs in the bottom of the frame to re-take the lead. Tampa Bay starter Erasmo Ramirez held the Yankees hitless until Carlos Beltran led off the eighth with a single.
Napoli botched his first attempt at a fly ball, dropping it to put a runner on third before Cole Hamels was able to pitch out of the mess and render the error harmless – other than making Hamels throw more pitches and work seven innings instead of quite possibly eight. His career record against Texas is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA, two wins coming this season.
The Astros would eventually win the game though and his first two starts looked like this was a trade deadline steal.
MINNEAPOLIS – Eduardo Escobar homered and drove in two runs and Tyler Duffey struck out seven while pitching into the seventh inning to lead the Twins to a victory over the Tigers.
Kazmir is 1-3 with a 5.02 ERA over that span. He has also lost his last four road starts.
The Jays took the first two games of the series from the Yankees but dropped Sunday’s finale, leaving them 3.5 games up in the AL East. Hamels had gone five straight starts without giving up a home run.
Athletics: Sonny Gray goes for his 14th win when Oakland opens a four-game series at the Chicago White Sox.
The groundout made a victor of Jonathan Papelbon (4-2), who blew his first save of the season by allowing Freddy Galvis’ solo homer in the 10th.
SAN FRANCISCO – Matt Duffy doubled twice and drove in two runs and the Giants beat the Reds.
There is the intensity amongst teams and in the arenas when the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets play in the National Basketball Association.
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Scott Schebler socked a two-run homer for the Dodgers and Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner each added a RBI. The Rangers will be out to claim the divisional lead at home to the Astros. Wins have however been hard to come by as the veteran lefty is just 2-5 in his decisions.
