09/25/20 10:49:00
Printable Page
09/25 22:48 CDT Rangers keep Astros waiting for playoffs with 5-4 win in 10
Rangers keep Astros waiting for playoffs with 5-4 win in 10
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- Joey Gallo kept the Houston Astros from clinching the
last playoff spot in the AL playoffs at least temporarily, driving home the
winning run on a fielder's-choice grounder in the 10th inning for a 5-4 Texas
Rangers win Friday night.
The Astros were a strike away from going to the postseason for a franchise-best
fourth straight year when Ronald Guzman hit a tying homer in the bottom of the
ninth off Ryan Pressly.
Now Houston has to wait to see if the Los Angeles Angels lose at the Dodgers. A
loss by the Angels, and the Astros (29-29) clinch second place in the AL West.
Their three-year reign in the division was already ended by Oakland.
Rookie catcher Sam Huff homered twice, his second and third, for the first two
Rangers runs.
Alex Bregman homered and a had a sacrifice fly that put the Astros ahead 4-3 in
the top of the 10th.
Nick Solak matched Bregman's sacrifice fly to get the last-place Rangers even
in the bottom of the 10th. Gallo's grounder was fielded by Jos Altuve, but his
desperate throw home was wide, allowing pinch-runner Andrew Romine to score.
Enoli Paredes (3-3) walked Isiah Kiner-Falefa to start the Texas 10th, and the
bases were loaded when first baseman Yuli Gurriel's throw to second was wide on
a sharp grounder from Willie Calhoun.
Brett Martin (1-1) got the win.
Gurriel put Houston ahead in the eighth with a single before Guzman's tying
shot, his fourth of the season.
3,000 STRAIGHT FOR PA MAN
Chuck Morgan of the Rangers is set to call his 3,000th consecutive game as a
major league public address announcer Saturday. Morgan has spent 37 of his 38
seasons with Texas. The other was in Kansas City. It's hard for him to call it
a celebration in a season without fans.
"It would really be much better for me tomorrow night if we had 40,000 people
in the ballpark," Morgan said. "I don't like it, but I accept it."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: RHP Josh James was placed on the 10-day injured list for an unspecified
reason, and RHP Chase De Jong was brought up from the taxi squad.
Rangers: Manager Chris Woodward said rookie 3B Sherten Apostel won't play again
this season after leaving Thursday's game with back spasms following an awkward
dive to field a ball.
UP NEXT
The Astros didn't say before the game who would start the third game in the
four-game series to finish the regular season. RHP Kyle Gibson (2-6, 5.87 ERA)
is scheduled to start for the Rangers.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
|
