Texas Rangers: Rougned Odor Leads Texas To Win In Houston

The Texas Rangers cruise past the Houston Astros 4-2. As a result, Texas extends their winning streak to five games. Not only that, but this win also gives them their second series-win in a row, and their first series-win against Houston. Furthermore, thanks to Seattle losing, the Rangers jump to third place in the American League West standings. They trail Houston by eleven games. Tomorrow, Texas goes for the sweep.

Houston quickly jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first, making it 2-0 in the fourth. In the fifth, the Texas Rangers went on the board, only managing one run despite having the bases loaded with two outs. It was tied up in the seventh. Texas took the lead in the eighth and held on to it, preventing Houston from coming back.

Nick Martinez took the mound. He pitched 6.0 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and striking out one batter, earning a no-decision.

More from Texas Rangers News

• Early 2023 MLB mock draft has Texas Rangers selecting an Ohtani-lite
• 3 Texas Rangers outfield trade targets not named Bryan Reynolds
• Did Jacob deGrom really mean what he said at his Texas Rangers press conference?
• Martin Perez accepting the qualifying offer looking like solid deal for the Rangers
• 4 outfielders the Texas Rangers can still pursue this winter

Jose Leclerc relieved Martinez in the seventh inning. He pitched 1.0 innings, allowing no hits, no runs, and striking out one batter, earning his first win this season. He’s played in four games since returning from his injury and he’s yet to allow one run, allowing just one hit.

Keone Kela then came in. He pitched 0.2 innings, allowing one hit, no runs, and striking out one batter, earning his sixth hold this season. Kela has only allowed two runs in his last ten games.

Matt Bush closed the game, pitching 1.1 innings, allowing one hit, no runs, and striking out one batter, earning his eighth save this season. Bullpen has doing great as of late. Pitching’s ERA of 4.10 jumps them to tenth in the league. Three spots higher than yesterday.

Offense finished 6-for-33, striking out 16 times. The offense’s streak of striking more than eight times in a game is now at 18 games. This is not good. It’s amazing that despite the high number of strikeouts, Texas finds a way to win. Everyone in the lineup struck out at least once. Five players struck out multiple times. Rougned Odor is the man of the game, homering to tie the game, and homering again to give Texas the 4-2 lead, which was the game’s decider. Odor went 3-for-4, his second multi-homer game this season, as well as his first three-hit game this season. He’s 5-for-8 in this series. In any case, he must keep it up. That goes for the entire lineup. The strikeouts must decrease and the hits and score-running must increase.

Andrew Cashner takes the mound tomorrow. Texas goes for the sweep tomorrow. If they win, it’ll be their second consecutive sweep. It’ll put them ten games behind Houston. The winning streak must continue.