Astros Use the Long Ball to Defeat Texas

George Springer (David Manning-USA TODAY Sports)

If George Springer hits like he did today, his stay in Oklahoma City will likely be a short one. Springer went 3-3 this afternoon as the Houston Astros defeated the Texas Rangers 13-6 in San Antonio.

Springer was a triple away from the cycle and also added two walks to go with his three hits. As Spring Training has progressed, the outfielder has begun to show a lot more poise at the plate than he did earlier in the month.

Marwin Gonzalez seems intent on ending the spring as he started it, hot. The Astros’ super utility player went 3-4 today and scored two runs while raising his average to .407. Gonzalez got things started in the first inning with an infield single off the knee of Texas pitcher Joe Saunders. Jesus Guzman followed with a two run home run. Springer then came to plate and hit the second of Houston’s four round trippers on the day. There was no doubt about the legitimacy of the home run as Springer hit it a long way out to center field.

Dallas Keuchel got the start for the Astros, and his afternoon was uneven. He allowed an unearned first inning run that was directly attributable to two throwing errors, one by Jonathan Meyer and then one by Springer. After a perfect second inning, the left-hander gave up a run in each of the next three innings before being replaced by Nick Tropeano after allowing a Brett Lillibridge home run in the fifth inning.

Keuchel also allowed a solo shot to Leonys Martin and the outing raised his ERA to 6.33. The newest member of Houston’s rotation struck out six batters, allowed four earned runs, six hits, and one walk.

With the Astros playing later in the day at Minute Maid Park, Gonzalez and Guzman were the two regulars in San Antonio. Texas on the other hand had their regular players get an at bat or two before the season starts on Monday.

Tropeano got out of the fifth inning without incident allowing two hits and striking out one batter. Mike Foltynewicz showed once again why we will be seeing him in Houston at some point this season. Folty pitched 2.2 scoreless innings allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two batters and lowering his ERA to 1.38. Ross Seaton closed out the game for Houston pitching 1.1 innings allowing one run on two hits and a walk.

If there was any doubt about the outcome of the game, Jonathan Meyer took care of that with a 5th inning grand slam. Austin Wates singled home a run in the 7th inning and then Nolan Fontana closed out the scoring on the Astros’ end with a three run home run.