Recommended Videos

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-22-2013, 10:16 PM

Preseason Wheelings and Dealings

With new GM Nolan Ryan at the helm, the organization took a fresh look at the roster in an attempt to improve immediately. Some of the areas in which Ryan saw an immediate need to change included:

1) the outfield is very much a weakness, with several players in ill-defined roles

2) having the only lefty starting pitcher on the team as Erik Bedard needed to change quickly. With sluggers like Josh Reddick and Josh Hamilton in the division, the need to change the look with another lefty starter was a big need

3) not really sold on Matt Dominguez at the hot corner, and from Nolan Ryan's time with Texas, he had some ideas about how to fix that....

_________________

After speaking with GM Dave Dombrowski of the Detroit Tigers, GM Ryan saw that Dombrowski was intent on adding another reliever to the pen, but without parting with Avisail Garcia, Nick Castellanos, or Bruce Rondon. Many proposed deals had fallen through at the insistence of including those players. So, after an hour on the phone mostly talking about kids and grandkids, the Tigers and Astros came to agreement on the 1st trade of Spring Training 2013...

Detroit receives: RP Jose Veras, IF Marwin Gonzalez
Houston receives: P Casey Crosby, P Adam Wilk

...allowing Detroit to shore up their pen and IF for another run at the Pennant.

After speaking to Dombrowski, Ryan phoned GM Kevin Towers of the D'Backs and offered the following:

Snakes receive: LHRP Wesley Wright, 3B Matt Dominguez, OF J.D. Martinez
Houston receives: OF Gerardo Parra, SP Patrick Corbin

Towers accepted mainly because he likes both Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock more than Parra, and Corbin he viewed as expendable. Towers also liked the idea of having a possible long term solution at 3B in Dominguez, after Eric Chavez is gone. Towers also views Prado's eventual position as LF.

Doing business with your former organization is never easy. However, ironically, Nolan Ryan remembered how he and GM Jon Daniels used to clash over the future of 3B Mike Olt, with Daniels wanting to deal him for any and every trade target. However, Nolan was higher on Olt, and preferred not to deal him unless a top 5 player were coming back in a deal.

After GM Jon Daniels finished laughing about how, in his view, Nolan Ryan wore the rose-colored glasses about Mike Olt, they struck a deal.

Texas receives: SP Bud Norris, OF Justin Maxwell, OF Fernando Martinez, LHRP Dallas Keuchel
Houston receives: 3B Mike Olt, RP Kyle McClellan

Daniels had a need for a SP with strikeout stuff and also liked the OF depth as a cheaper alternative to David Murphy and as a fallback for if Nelson Cruz gets popped again.

After some haggling with GM "Jack Z" of the M's, both sides were satisfied..

Seattle receives: OF/2B Jimmy Paredes and OF Rick Ankiel
Houston receives: RP D.J. Mitchell, SS Brendan Ryan

Finally, after a minor deal with the Indians...

Cleveland receives: OF Che-Hsuan Lin
Houston receives: OF Thomas Neal

GM Nolan Ryan felt very positive about the shape the team was taking entering Spring Training....

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-22-2013, 10:31 PM

2013 Preseason Depth Chart

Houston Astros Depth Chart - 2013

Catcher
Jason Castro
Carlos Corporan

First Base
Carlos Pena
Brett Wallace
Chris Carter

Second Base
Jose Altuve
Ronny Cedeno
Chone Figgins

Third Base
Mike Olt
Chone Figgins

Shortstop
Brendan Ryan
Ronny Cedeno

Left Field
Chris Carter
Brandon Barnes

Center Field
Gerardo Parra
Brandon Barnes

Right Field
Thomas Neal
Ryan Wheeler

Starting Pitcher
Lucas Harrell
Patrick Corbin
Erik Bedard
Phillip Humber
Adam Wilk

Relief Pitcher
Rhiner Cruz
Jose Valdez
Xavier Cedeno
Hector Ambriz
Sergio Escalona
D.J. Mitchell

Closer
Kyle McClellan

Designated Hitter
Brett Wallace
Chris Carter

**turty11** · 04-22-2013, 10:32 PM

Re: Waiting to Blast Off: The Houston Astros

i really like that mike olt pick up

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-23-2013, 02:30 AM

Spring Training Roundup-Pitching

After going 10-20 in March, the Houston and national media are already taking aim at GM Nolan Ryan for perhaps biting off more than he could chew. Fan blogs sporting the following images to tank the season are sweeping Astros nation:

Although many of the new acquisitions are finding their niche, some of the same problems are still glaring in Houston.

Pitching Depth

Ask any baseball person and they'll tell you good teams always start with good pitching. And the Astros got anything but good pitching on the Spring after getting pounded by the Cardinals, Yankees, and the Blue Jays several times among others.

One of the most disconcerting aspects was the apparent lack of progress of Houston's core of young starters. Jordan Lyles, Casey Crosby, Alex White, and John Ely were in open competition for the 5th rotation spot, but both Lyles and Crosby were consistently awful, and White and Ely were consistently inconsistent. Surprising to no one who paid attention to Spring Training, all will start in AAA Oklahoma City.

Adam Wilk appeared out of nowhere recently to claim the 5th starting spot. Wilk, a young LHP recently acquired from Detroit was a long shot to say the least, even on a team such as the Astros.

Adam Wilk: What can I say? One week I'm a forgotten man in a top-heavy Detroit minor league system, and a couple weeks later I'm on the opening day roster of the Astros. I'm honored and thrilled to be here. But I'm not surprised. I have a lot of faith in my ability and although some say my velocity can be beat by pitching underhanded, I just go out and try to do my job to help the team win.

Wilk is not kidding either...

Keith Law: Adam Wilk? Definitely SSS. My job is to discuss prospects, not guys who never were. Wilk might be able to post a 4 ERA on a beer league, slow pitch softball team, though it just seems like he pitches underhanded. Next question.

Jonthan Mayo: Adam Wilk? Do you mean Adam Warren? Adam Wilk, is he a pitcher? Not really too familiar with him actually.

Marc Hulet: Well pitchers have pitched whole seasons with 7+ ERA in the past, so I think Adam Wilk is safe in the rotation for now.

Though Wilk sits at only 85-87 mph with his 4-seam fastball, it's really his 5-pitch mix that allowed him to keep hitters at bay in the Spring according to Astros pitching coach Doug Brocail...

Doug Brocail: I have a lot of respect for great pitchers who've pitched in this league for a long time without excellent stuff. I remember going against Maddux and Glavine when they were in Atlanta, and who would say they belonged in a beer league? Those guys couldn't touch 90 mph, but they'll be easily elected into the Hall of Fame next year. Wilk reminds me a little of a young Glavine...the command, the 2-seamer, the cutter, a sometimes curveball, and a nice change. If Adam's hitting his spots, he can have success in this league, and he's shown that this Spring.

And while there is some uncertainty in the rotation, the bullpen has been solid all Spring, which is surprising given the lack of proven arms.

Kyle McClellan: You know, we relish it. Nobody expects anything from us, but what people fail to realize is we belong in the majors too. I've been pitching for a long time in this league and I can say there isn't much that separates a top closer from a middle reliever. Just a tick or two off the old heater can mean the end of a career. Having your finger placement just a bit off from where you usually have it can mean the difference between an out pitch and a meatball. I've been in long relief and middle relief mostly, but Bo [Astros manager Bo Porter], Doug, and Nolan believe that I have what it takes to close. And I agree with them.

You know we're the farthest thing from the Nasty Boys of the early '90s. We're more like the Nobodies. In fact, D.J. [reliever D.J. Mitchell] and I were joking they might as well take our names off the back of our jerseys...it's not like anyone's gonna notice.

How the pitching comes together.....or doesn't should be interesting to watch this season.

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-23-2013, 03:08 AM

Spring Training Roundup-Batting

After having the worst offense in the major leagues in 2012, Astros manager Bo Porter realizes the difficult task ahead.

Bo Porter: I think from my time as a third base coach with Florida and Washington and from my bench coach days in Arizona, I've worked a lot with upwardly mobile organizations. And one constant with these clubs was we had some real young teams. That should serve me well as manager in Houston because I know how to get the most out of those guys who are hungry to get to the top in this league. We've been very successful.

At the same time, I was also a struggling minor leaguer who came up with the Cubs in '99, so I know a lot about grinding it out and not letting the stigma of playing for terrible teams or long bus rides in the minors get to you. Now that I said that, I feel that I have to say we're not going to be terrible. Nolan has been clear about this, and I guarantee you we will not lose 100 games this year. Even bringing in new talent, we owe it to the fans to play watchable baseball. And that's exactly what we're going to do. That's a promise.

To do this, our offense has to be a lot better than last year. With the moves we've made and progress by some of our youngsters, I feel this is the reality. Mike [3B Mike Olt] and Brett [DH Brett Wallace] have been striking the ball well. We actually have a top of the order this year with Parra [CF Gerardo Parra] and Altuve [2B Jose Altuve] 1-2 in some order. Chris [LF Chris Carter] really brings some thunder from the right side and should take full advantage of the short porch.

Coming out of Spring Training, Porter has settled on the following everyday lineup versus both lefties and righties (* = bats left):

1 - CF - Gerardo Parra*
2 - 2B - Jose Altuve
3 - DH - Brett Wallace*
4 - LF - Chris Carter
5 - 1B - Carlos Pena*
6 - 3B - Mike Olt
7 - C - Jason Castro*
8 - RF - Thomas Neal
9 - SS - Brendan Ryan

Time will tell if this lineup can score runs. Some close to the team aren't exactly convinced. New broadcaster Alan Ashby opined on the lack of a credible threat.

Alan Ashby: Well, pitching is more my specialty, but if I'm an opposing pitcher, I'm not exactly pitching around anyone here.

One rival AL GM also seriously questions how Bo Porter could go with Wallace in the 3-hole among other things.

Nameless GM: They're going to get eaten alive. In the AL West against that pitching, they're toast. I think they'll hit some homers, but they'll strike out a TON. And what's more, Brett Wallace might be the worst regular 3-hitter ever. Problem is they have about 3 leadoff guys and about 4 5/6-hole hitters. So, they have to make it work, we'll see...

Asked about the harsh comments, Brett Wallace responded...

Brett Wallace: OK? Do you want me to cry or something? I've been working hard on my swing with John [hitting coach John Mallee] in the cages and the ball's been jumping, so I'm just hoping that carries over to opening day. Texas has some tough, tough pitchers, so it's all hands on deck against those guys.

Opening day is near, so we can only speculate on how this will turn out...

**turty11** · 04-23-2013, 09:39 AM

Re: Waiting to Blast Off: The Houston Astros

watch brett wallace blast 27 homers.

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-23-2013, 08:03 PM

We Have a Problem...

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
Apr 2, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas (1-0)	4	0	0	3	0	1	0	3	1	12	13	0
Houston (0-1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
W: Alexi Ogando L: Lucas Harrell

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
Apr 3, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas (2-0)	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	3	9	0
Houston (0-2)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	1
W: Yu Darvish L: Patrick Corbin

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
Apr 4, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas (3-0)	1	1	0	3	0	5	0	2	0	12	16	1
Houston (0-3)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	6	0
W: Matt Harrison L: Erik Bedard

The Texas Rangers were too much to handle for Houston, sweeping all three games with a combined score of 27-2.

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-23-2013, 08:19 PM

Signs of Life...

After 3 downer games vs. Texas, the A's jumped on Houston a bit in Game 1 of the 3-game tilt going up 2-0 in the first inning off a Seth Smith 2-run HR. However, Houston's offense actually came to life a bit in the 4th inning plating 2, and then Thomas Neal hit team HR #1 of the season...a 2-run shot that took advantage of the short porch in left field at Minute Maid Park.

Then the A's came roaring back to re-take the lead 5-4 in the 5th.

The game played to a stalemate until the bottom of the 9th when magic happened. Down 5-4, Oakland brings closer Grant Balfour in for the SV chance to face the 8-9-1 of Houston's lineup. Batters 1 and 2 (Thomas Neal and Brendan Ryan) are set down on line-outs. Things are looking grim...

Then, Gerardo Parra comes up and proceeds to walk on 4 pitches. Tying run on base. Next, Jose Altuve comes up, gets ahead 2-1, and taps a grounder to SS, which looks like a pretty sure thing to end the game, BUT Jed Lowrie (the former Stro), ranging up the middle, fires a throw to 1B off the mark, taking Brandon Moss off the bag up the RF line. E6. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 out, bottom of the 9th.

Up comes Brett Wallace, who was one of the top hitters in ST. First pitch, Balfour grooves a 4-seam FB lower-half/inner-third of the plate; Wallace connects (lefties like low and in)...ball goes over the fence opposite field (once again taking full advantage of the Crawford box seats in left. Walk-off 3-run shot to send the fans home happy with a 7-5 win.

....as if to say, I'm looking at YOU, doubters...

Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros
Apr 5, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland (2-3)	2	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	5	8	2
Houston (1-3)	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	3	7	11	0
W: Rhiner Cruz L: Grant Balfour

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-23-2013, 08:36 PM

Houston Walks off Again

Oakland ace Brett Anderson enjoying the nightlife in Houston.

The very next game, HOU and OAK locked horns in a pitchers duel between surprise 5th starter Adam Wilk and Oakland ace Brett Anderson. Seems unfair, doesn't it? Anyway, HOU was actually leading 1-0 into the 7th (and one-hitting OAK for good measure) when Wilk began to tire and was pulled. Houston's pen couldn't put out the fire, and the game headed to the bottom of the 9th with OAK leading 3-1.

Again, Oakland brings in Grant Balfour. Again Houston's offense clicks to life...

Carlos Pena greets Balfour with a solo shot to right (this one would have left any park). 3-2 OAK.

Chris Carter comes up and laces a single up the middle. Jason Castro walks on 7 pitches. 1st and 2nd, down 1, no outs. Thomas Neal, takes strike one and two missing on bunt attempts to move the runners. 0-2 count.

Good thing for HOU the bunt didn't work, because Neal proceeded to send a walkoff 3-run shot over the RF wall on a Grant Balfour offering up and outer-third of the plate. Final score: Astros 5, A's 3. Back-to-back games with walk-off HRs.

WHO IS THOMAS NEAL??

Thomas Neal, the starting RF for Houston, was obtained in a preseason deal from Cleveland. In fact, he's so new that all we have is file footage of him with the Yankees and Indians. Undoubtedly his exploits today will lead to a nice photo of him wearing Astros garb. When asked about today's game, Neal replied:

Thomas Neal: Woah! Still not sinking in. You'd think having the whole team jumping on me after I crossed the plate would make it sink in. Man, I'm just ecstatic right now. Pinching myself right now, maybe I'll wake up.

Oakland Athletics at Houston Astros
Apr 6, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland (2-4)	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	3	5	0
Houston (2-3)	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	5	9	0
W: Jose Valdez L: Grant Balfour

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-23-2013, 09:05 PM

April 2013 Recap

Houston, TX - After a disastrous opening series against Texas, the Astros leveled off as a moderate surprise team. As of end of play on April 23rd, the Astros owned a 12-8 record after taking Game 2 of a 3-game set 5-3 against Seattle. And much of this was without their best hitter Jose Altuve, who was lost to a strained back suffered against LAA on 4/14/13 and only recently returned.

However, the law of gravity started to operate once again on Houston, and the Astros dropped 6 straight, with a 4-game sweep (by a combined score of 33-10) to the Red Sox at Fenway sandwiched in there. The final day of April, however, was kind to the Astros as they were finally able to snap their 6-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium.

Houston Astros at New York Yankees
Apr 30, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston (13-14)	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	2	3	0
New York (15-13)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	1
W: Patrick Corbin L: Michael Pineda S: Kyle McClellan

The star for Houston was an emerging Cy Young candidate perhaps in Patrick Corbin, 2-1 with a sub-2.00 ERA, Corbin was able shut down the Yankees and outduel Michael Pineda, who had made a surprise return from injury.

Patrick Corbin: Well I was a bit surprised to be dealt to Houston in the first place in Spring Training. And everyone was telling me how awful the team would be--I was actually getting sympathy cards from the guys in Arizona as if someone had passed away. But, that's behind me now.

I've been able to locate my fastball to both sides of the plate, and work off of that to sneak my change up and breaking ball in on guys. Obviously shutting down a great lineup today like the Yankees is pretty special, and I'll admit it, I'm a little surprised to be in the top whatever pitchers in K's so far. Just rolling with the momentum right now, letting my defense make plays for me.

Houston hopes Corbin can keep being the stopper for them as they look to keep their grasp on 2nd in the AL West or chase down Texas for first. Houston is currently 13-14 and 4 GB the 17-10 Texas Rangers.

AC · 04-24-2013, 08:10 PM

Re: Waiting to Blast Off: The Houston Astros

You know I'm following. Like where this franchise is headed.

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-25-2013, 02:00 AM

Above .500, Will it Last???

Houston, TX- After swiping 2 of 3 games from the Yankees in the Bronx, the Astros came home in a jubilant mood ready to take on the surging Detroit Tigers.

In a matchup of the NL's worst team in 2012 against the AL's best, the game played out much closer than anticipated.

After a scoreless first 3 innings, the Astros broke through against Max Scherzer for 3 runs in the bottom of the 4th. Between that outburst and Chris Carter's solo HR in the bottom of the 6th, that would be all the scoring the Astros needed to support Phil Humber, who made his best start of the season so far.

Phil Humber: Well it wasn't exactly a Perfect Game now was it? Hell, it wasn't even a quality start. But, man, against a lineup like Detroit, I'll take it. Each time I try to get Cabrera out, I feel like I'm solving a rubik's cube from scratch. And I've never lined up one of those darned things yet!

Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros
May 2, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Detroit (19-9)	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	0	3	10	1
Houston (15-14)	0	0	0	3	0	1	0	0	x	4	10	1
W: Phil Humber L: Max Scherzer S: Kyle McClellan

Detroit Tigers
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
A. Jackson	5	2	2	0	0	1	0
A. Dirks	5	0	0	0	0	1	0
M. Cabrera	2	0	2	0	2	0	0
P. Fielder	4	0	2	2	0	1	0
T. Hunter	3	1	1	1	1	1	1
A. Avila	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
V. Martinez	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
F. Rivera	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
J. Peralta	4	0	0	0	0	2	0
A. Garcia	4	0	1	0	0	2	0
O. Infante	3	0	1	0	0	0	0
Q. Berry	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS	35	3	10	3	3	8	1

Houston Astros
HITTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	HR	AVG
G. Parra	4	0	1	0	0	0	0
J. Altuve	4	1	2	0	0	0	0
M. Olt	4	1	1	1	0	0	0
C. Carter	4	2	3	1	0	0	1
C. Pena	4	0	1	1	0	1	0
C. Corporan	4	0	0	0	0	0	0
J. Castro	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
R. Wheeler	3	0	1	1	0	0	0
T. Neal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
B. Barnes	3	0	1	0	0	0	0
B. Ryan	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS	33	4	10	4	0	1	1

Detroit Tigers
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
M. Scherzer	7.1	10	4	4	0	0	1
O. Dotel	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0
TEAM TOTALS	8.0	10	4	4	0	1	1

Houston Astros
PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
P. Humber	5.1	5	2	2	0	3	1
S. Escalona (H)	0.1	1	0	0	1	0	0
H. Ambriz (H)	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0
J. Valdez (H)	1.0	1	1	1	0	2	0
X. Cedeno (H)	0.1	1	0	0	2	1	0
R. Cruz (H)	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0
K. McClellan (S)	1.0	2	0	0	0	2	0
TEAM TOTALS	9.0	10	3	3	3	8	1

The win took the Astros above the .500 threshhold, and no one thought Houston would be above .500 into May. Even so, most baseball analysts are very skeptical of the team's chances. ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian reflected:

Tim Kurkjian: Baseball is a funny sport, but this is why we play 162 game seasons and not 35 game seasons. The fluke teams are inevitably weeded out over the course of a long baseball season. People would be surprised if Houston made it to the All Star Break at .500, but what are the odds of that? Slim? None? Probably about as likely as a 15-game losing streak starting tomorrow.

Even though analysts and baseball commentators across the country are underwhelmed by Houston's staying power, the Astros don't mind playing the extreme underdog.

In other news, the Astros bullpen took a hit in today's game as Hector Ambriz tore a quad muscle after an awkward delivery in the 7th inning.

Hector Ambriz heads to 60-day DL
Pos	Player	Injury Note
RP	Hector Ambriz	Torn Quad, out 4 months

This is a pretty big blow to the Astros, as Ambriz has been one of the few reliable arms in the pen.

Ambriz's line: 12.2 IP, 0-1, 2.13 ERA, 0.47 WHIP, 17 K, 2 BB, .098 BAA

Chuckie Fick was recalled from AAA Oklahoma City to take Ambriz's spot on the active roster.

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-25-2013, 02:26 AM

Avenging Angels...

Houston, TX- After dropping 2 of 3 to Detroit, being above .500 was a short-lived thing for the Astros. Analysts across the country are going on air with the "see, told ya so" schtick. After an off day, and having to hear the "experts" pick the team apart after dropping the series to Detroit, the Astros looked to get back on solid ground against their division foe, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And, after sweeping the Angels back in early April, you better believe the Angels are hungry for revenge...

However, the Angels jumped all over Houston and starter Erik Bedard from the 2nd inning on and did not let up.

Erik Bedard: I can't recall getting hit like that before. This is gonna sound dumb, but I got a massage after leaving the game because my neck seriously was smarting. I think it was from turning around and watching my pitches end up in the gap, over and over...

I'm not going to say they're juicing, because MLB tests for that now, but they might as well have been today.

Bo Porter: Mad? Nah, I'm not mad. I'm furious. We have an off day to prepare for the Angels after getting our butts whipped against Detroit, and we lay an egg. To a man, we really need to re-evaluate if we want to be a winning team anymore. Don't ask me, ask my players. They've got to get it done between the white lines. In a game like this, there's no need for a manager; there's need for a mercy rule.

Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros
May 7, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Los Angeles (14-19)	0	4	4	2	2	0	0	0	6	18	22	1
Houston (15-17)	0	1	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	5	14	0
W: Jason Vargas L: Erik Bedard

Needless to say, coming to the ballpark was futile today for Houston. The Angels, however, didn't want the game to end. Angels DH Mark Trumbo tied a franchise record today by smacking 4 doubles.

Mark Trumbo: It was like the movie Groundhog Day. You know the one with Bill Murray? He's hilarious. Anyway, I just kept getting pitches to hit, repeated my swing, and gap shot after gap shot. That's crazy, it really tied a franchise record? Man, I should've gone for 5 doubles [laughter]. What was I thinking making an out today?

As if not to be outdone, Mike Trout hit 2 HR's himself and drove in 6.

Mike Trout: Well, I mean when the whole offense is hitting like that, you don't want to make an out. You want to keep getting AB after AB. Strike while it's hot.

Oh sure, that fuels me. I mean I don't care about the MVP, but some people thought last year was a fluke. What do you guys think? [laughter]

**WaitTilNextYear** · 04-25-2013, 03:06 AM

Sweep in the Heart of Texas

Houston, TX - After a lackluster week of baseball, dropping back-to-back series against the Tigers and Angels, the Astros found themselves locking horns with the Texas Rangers once again. Last time they played during Opening Week, the Rangers clobbered Houston, outscoring them by 25 runs in the 3-game set.

And, in a result that really no one saw coming, the Astros returned the favor, sweeping Texas in 3 games.

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
May 10, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas (24-11)	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	2	7	7	0
Houston (18-18)	1	2	4	0	0	2	0	0	x	9	9	1
W: Lucas Harrell L: Derek Holland S: Kyle McClellan

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
May 11, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas (24-12)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1
Houston (19-18)	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	x	2	6	1
W: Patrick Corbin L: Alexi Ogando S: Kyle McClellan

Texas Rangers at Houston Astros
May 12, 2013	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Texas (24-13)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	8	0
Houston (20-18)	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	x	2	5	0
W: Chuckie Fick L: Yu Darvish S: Kyle McClellan

Recommended Videos

Waiting to Blast Off: The Houston Astros

Waiting to Blast Off: The Houston Astros

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment