HOUSTON – After another splendid start gave Justin Verlander the most wins and lowest ERA in the majors, Houston manager Dusty Baker was asked just how impressive the veteran right-hander has been this season in his return from Tommy John surgery.
“What impresses me that has probably gone unnoticed is how hard he had to work to get back to this point," Baker said. “I’ve seen some guys don’t work and they never get back, but this guy is almost unlike any other player that I’ve ever had."
Recommended Videos
Verlander (6-1) scattered six singles across six scoreless innings without a walk Saturday night to lead the Astros to a 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers. The 39-year-old ace tied a season high with eight strikeouts and lowered his ERA to 1.22.
“It means a lot," said Verlander, who missed almost two full seasons with the elbow injury. “I worked extremely hard ever since the surgery. And it’s way too early to say I’m pleased with the results. But it’s better to start off good than bad."
Yordan Alvarez had two hits, including his second career triple, and drove in a run to help the Astros take a 2-1 lead in this four-game series. Veteran catcher Jason Castro made two strong defensive plays and doubled and scored in the fifth to aid in the victory.
Houston led by two in the eighth when Corey Seager doubled off Hector Neris with one out. The Rangers cut the lead to one when Seager scored on a single by Adolis Garcia.
A balk sent Garcia to second, but he was thrown by Castro trying to steal third.
“I love his aggressive style," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “Just a couple of little details we need to talk through."
Neris then struck out Kole Calhoun to end the threat.
Ryan Pressly allowed a single to Nathaniel Lowe with two outs in the ninth, but struck out pinch-hitter Sam Huff for his fifth save.
Texas starter Jon Gray (1-2) gave up six hits and two runs in six innings.
The first inning didn’t start out well for the Astros when Brad Miller reached on a fielding error by Castro before Marcus Semien singled. There was one out in the inning when Garcia singled and Miller scored. But the Astros challenged the call and a replay showed Castro tagged the runner before he touched home plate.
There was a second review of the play when the Rangers challenged the home plate collision rule, but that challenge was not successful.
“It was tough because we put some pressure on them there in the first and we couldn't cash in," Woodward said.
José Siri, batting leadoff with Jose Altuve getting a day off, singled to start the Houston first and stole second base. Michael Brantley walked before Alvarez singled with one out to score Siri and put Houston up 1-0.
Castro doubled with no outs in the fifth and advanced to third on a groundout by Siri for the second out. Gray then bounced one off the backstop for a wild pitch and Castro slid in just before the tag to make it 2-0.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Jake Odorizzi, who left his start Monday on a stretcher, played catch for a second straight day. Odorizzi, on the 15-day injured list, said he has strained ligaments around his ankle and foot. “We’re enthused of what we see,” Baker said. “I don’t just go out there and spy on him or anything like that, but from a distance I’ve got my eyes on him and our trainers are out there with them, and he’s doing good.”
UP NEXT
Houston RHP José Urquidy (3-1, 4.81 ERA) opposes Taylor Hearn (2-2, 5.46) when the series wraps up Sunday.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports