Astros 6, Rangers 4: Conger's extra-inning heroics give Astros a series win

One game saw just as many ups and downs as the entire first week of the season. The Astros jumped out to an early lead, got a strong pitching performance and then saw the offense flatline. The bullpen sort of faltered, but held on through 14 innings.

Oh, and Framin' Hank Conger came off the bench for his biggest hit as an Astro.

In between, we got a great, game-saving play by George Springer that could be this season's early highlight.

Dallas Keuchel was his usual brilliant self, though he took some shots at the umpires after his strike zone shrunk late in the game. That led to the Rangers rallying for two runs off him. Arlington scored two more in the next two frames to tie it.

It seemed that the Astros big second inning was going to be enough for Keuchel. Luis Valbuena led off with a home run and Jake Marisnick continued his smoking start to the season with a two-run homer of his own.

Colby Lewis then went into lockdown mode and didn't give up anything to Houston for the rest of his time on the mound.

In fact, the Astros didn't manage much until Conger's two-run blast in the top of the 14th. Conger entered the game after Jason Castro was pinch-run for in the extra frames. His first at-bat was his only at-bat in the game and he sent the ball into the seats in Arlington.

Springer, meanwhile, saved the game twice. In the bottom of the 11th, the Rangers had loaded the bases against Tony Sipp with two outs. Leonys Martin, who was on fire for all three games of this series, hit a bomb to right field. It would have been a grand slam, but then George Springer put on his cape and got to work.

Would Leonys Martin's fly ball have gone over the fence if George Springer hadn't caught it? Verdict: yes. pic.twitter.com/j1S8KdKjJO

— Bill Baer (@Baer_Bill) April 13, 2015

Springer did his impressive thing again later in the game, robbing another hit to end the game in the bottom of the 14th.

With the victory, Houston takes the series with the Rangers, remains in pole position for the Silver Boot and is atop the American League West standings. They're back to .500 after dropping two of three to the Indians, but will be sorely tested in this next six-game homestand by the visiting Oakland A's and the Angels of Anaheim.