The Texas Rangers Sweep the Astros out of Town

Sep 17, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland (left) celebrates his three-run home run with shortstop Elvis Andrus (1) against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

126. Final. 2. 135. 8

The Texas Rangers (79-67) pulled away from the Houston Astros (77-70) tonight, completing the four game sweep with the 8-2 victory. Sweeping someone is one of the hardest things to do in baseball, especially in a four game series, but the Rangers were able to do it tonight. Colby Lewis (16-58 4.41 ERA) put together another impressive start and got the win for the Rangers, while Lance McCullers 5-6, 3.18 ERA) pitched well, but took the loss.

Lewis has seemed to have found something in the last couple of starts, because he put together another fine effort tonight. Lewis went six impressive innings, allowing seven hits and only two earned runs. Lewis also struck out four batters tonight and in typical fashion, surrendering no walks. He was decently efficient tonight as well, needing just 90 pitches to get through six innings, 59 of those pitches being for strikes. The bullpen came in and continued to do what they have done, and that is throwing zeros up on the board. Keone Kela registered his 19^th hold of the season as he pitched a scoreless inning. Sam Dyson came in and pitched a spotless 8^th inning, and Ross Ohlendorf threw a shut out inning to polish off the 8-2 victory.

The Astros handed the ball to the rookie, and he handled himself well tonight. Lance McCullers pitched six innings of five hit ball, allowing three earned runs and a home run to Mitch Moreland. McCullers at times was wild tonight, walking three batters and needing 99 pitches to get through six innings. Ultimately though, the Astros bullpen is what let them down.

Josh Fields came in and only lasted 1/3 of an inning, surrendering one run on one hit. Tony Sipp and Oliver Perez came in and didn’t fair any better, each throwing 2/3 of an inning and allowing a run each. The knockout blow came off Vincent Velasquez, when Shin Soo Choo ripped a two run single to right center, scoring Bobby Wilson and Drew Stubbs.

The Rangers kept up their torrid pace at the dish tonight, but they changed it up a bit in how they got things done. All series long it had attacked the starters and jumped out to an early lead. This time they waited until the third inning, but that’s about all that changed. Mitch Moreland got the Rangers going with a dinger, his 21^st of the year, which made it 3-0. After the Astros fought back for two, Stubbs came scampering home on a wild pitch from Sipp. Adrian Beltre then followed that with a drive to deep right center for a double, scoring Choo. Bobby Wilson wasn’t to be outdone, and he drove one to left field in the eighth inning, scoring Elvis Andrus and Choo. Choo, who paced the Rangers with a 4-for-5 night, drove in the final two runs with his base hit to right, scoring Stubbs and Wilson.

For the Astros, the offense was a disappointment again tonight. Their only offense worth speaking of came in the fourth inning, when Evan Gattis doubled to deep left, scoring Jed Lowrie. Luis Valbuena then followed that up a couple batters later with a single to shallow right center, scoring Gattis and bringing the Astros within one. Unfortunately for them though, that was all they could muster up, as the Rangers staff shut them down from there.

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