The Crawfish Boxes - 2014 AL West Series: Astros at Rangers, April 11-13, 2014Astros baseball: we've got uniforms and everything.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/11437/crawfishboxes-fv.gif2014-04-13T17:07:04-05:00http://www.crawfishboxes.com/rss/stream/53703552014-04-13T17:07:04-05:002014-04-13T17:07:04-05:00Astros bats spoil Oberholtzer's strong outing
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<figcaption>Tom Pennington</figcaption>
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<p>Houston unable to string together enough offense to win finale in Arlington. </p> <p>The Houston Chronicle's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> beat writer Evan Drellich summed up today's game nicely with one tweet -</p>
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<p>Four straight days of seven-inning outings for an Astros SP. Too bad they can't hit.</p>
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanDrellich/statuses/455450358337114112">April 13, 2014</a>
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<p>The Astros simply couldn't do enough this series at the plate, as a result Houston dropped the two one-run games this series. If you remove the explosive fourth inning on Saturday, the Astros were .106 (10-for-94) at the plate in Arlington. Spoiling the efforts of the <span>Scott Feldman</span>, <span>Jarred Cosart</span>, and Brett Oberholtzer - each went seven innings and allowed four earned runs the entire series.</p>
<p>As was already said, <span>Brett Oberholtzer</span> went seven strong inning today - allowing one run on five hits, zero walks, and seven strikeouts. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> only run came after back-to-back singles; <span>Donnie Murphy</span> went to first to third on Shin-Soo Choo's single and scored on a sac-fly.</p>
<p><span>Martin Perez</span> matched Oberholtzer's effort going eight inning, allowed zero runs on five hits and 3 walks. Perez main weapon was the ground ball. The Rangers turned four twin-killings today. The Astros leadoff man reach base in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. A double play whipped away two of those baserunners, and Matty Dominguez was thrown out attempting to reach second on a hit-and-run.</p>
<p>The Astros head home to Houston to face the Kansas City <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Royals</a> for a three game series April 15-17.</p>
<p>Just as a side note, if the Astros were looking for offense -</p>
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<p>Singleton does it again. Solo homer breaks a 1-1 tie in the 6th. Now 4 HR and 15 RBI this season through 11 games.</p>
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/statuses/455446047129890817">April 13, 2014</a>
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https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/4/13/5611268/astros-bats-spoil-oberholtzer-strong-outing-rangers-win-1-0Ryan Dunsmore2014-04-13T13:07:01-05:002014-04-13T13:07:01-05:00Astros at Rangers: Game No. 13 Preview
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<figcaption>Abelimages</figcaption>
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<p>Oberholtzer is the Astros' only hope against the Rangers. </p> <h3>Houston at Arlington, 2:05 PM CDT</h3>
<p><b>TV: </b>CSN Houston, MLB.TV, FSSW<br><b>Radio:</b> KBME 790 AM, KLAT 1010 AM<br><b><a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> SBNation Blog: </b><a href="http://www.lonestarball.com/">Lone Star Ball</a></p>
<h3>Pitching matchup</h3>
<p><span>Brett Oberholtzer</span> (0-2, 4.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) vs. <span>Martin Perez</span> (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP)</p>
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<h4>Series Preview Notes</h4>
<p><span>Brett Oberholtzer has yet record a quality start for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> this season. He has failed to reach the end of the six inning, while allowing three runs in both games. The left-hander has been the personification of average thus far. That said, it's not hard to keep the faith with Obe'. The season is young and he will find the form that saw him record a 2.24 ERA in 64.1 innings as a starter last year.</span></p>
<p><span>Adrian Beltre</span> has had his way with Obe', going 3-for-4 with a double. <span>Mitch Moreland</span> has also accounted for a double against the big lefty in two-at-bats.</p>
<p>Martin Perez isn't a fireballer, he keep the ball on the ground for the most part. He will be just what the doctor ordered if he can keep his rotation spot in 2014. Perez has struck out 10 batters in 12 innings of work thus far in 2014. That's the good part, now the bad part , he allowed six earned runs on 15 hits and three walks.</p>
<p><span>Jose Altuve</span> and <span>Chris Carter</span> hit Perez hard in the past. Two of the three hits Altuve has collected has gone for doubles. While Carter has burned the lefty for six hits in 11 at-bats, including two home runs.</p>
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<p>The left-hander Martin Perez will face a streaking right-handed <span>Matt Dominguez</span> who has four hits in his last four games. Switch hitting <span>Robbie Grossman</span> is 3-for-9 with three extra-base hits in his last three games. <span>Jesus Guzman</span> will take his turn with the platoon at first, he has four hits in his last three appearances.</p>
<p><span>Elvis Andrus</span> has hit safely in the Rangers' first 11 games this season.</p>
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<p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/astros">@Astros</a> pitching staff ranks 1st in the AL in ground ball to fly ball ratio (1.80) & the defense ranks 6th in the Majors in fielding %.</p>
— Steve Grande (@AstrosGrande) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstrosGrande/statuses/455389989912592384">April 13, 2014</a>
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https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/4/13/5608846/astros-at-rangers-game-no-12-previewRyan Dunsmore2014-04-13T04:02:18-05:002014-04-13T04:02:18-05:00Villar Flashes the Leather Against the Rangers
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<figcaption>Abelimages</figcaption>
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<p>Jonathan Villar robbed Alex Rios deep in the hole to keep game close. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> took the lead in the top 10th inning after a <span>Jason Castro</span> triple and a sac-fly. The <a href="https://www.lonestarball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rangers</a> quickly threatened in the bottom of the inning as <span>Elvis Andrus</span> singled and stole second shortly after that. <span>Alex Rios</span> was at the plate when magic happened.</p>
<p>Rios hit a sharp grounder far to <span>Jonathan Villar's</span> right, the Astros shortstop fully extended to stab the ball and fired to first to get Rios. Mid-dive, Villar adjusted his glove height for the big hop and reaching behind him to snag the ball. A web gem for sure. My words don't do it justice, lets take a look at Tim's gif -</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4289251/VillarDefense.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Villardefense_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4289251/VillarDefense_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">What about our audio lovers? Here is the Astros broadcast teams' call of the play.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://m.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=32043139&topic_id=11493214&width=400&height=224&property=mlb" width="400" height="224" frameborder="0">Your browser does not support iframes.</iframe></p>
<p>Mike Fast tweeted out a picture that gives the proper scope of how far Villar ranged to his right to get the ball and how far that throw was.</p>
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<p>Tried to piece together video frames to show how far Villar ranged on that play in the 10th tonight. <a href="http://t.co/LMwCeiEq9i">pic.twitter.com/LMwCeiEq9i</a></p>
— Mike Fast (@fastballs) <a href="https://twitter.com/fastballs/statuses/455208029076484096">April 13, 2014</a>
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<p>Hats off Mr. Villar, now keep it up.
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https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/4/13/5609884/villar-flashes-the-leather-against-the-rangersRyan Dunsmore2014-04-13T03:37:42-05:002014-04-13T03:37:42-05:00Astros even series with Rangers
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<figcaption>Ronald Martinez</figcaption>
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<p>Astros flip the script on the Rangers, win extra inning affair in Arlington. </p> <p>This is some kind of joke? Maybe a dream? No, it's real <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> fans. The Astros have a chance to actually win a series with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> after a 6-5 win in game two.</p>
<p>Nothing comes easy for the Astros, Houston once again put the opposing starting pitcher on no-hitter watch. <span>Tanner Scheppers</span> retired the first nine of the ten batters he faced. The Astros' only baserunner was <span>Jason Castro</span>, who was hit by a pitch. In the fourth, Castro once again reached base - this time via a walk. <span>Jose Altuve</span> and <span>Chris Carter</span> would follow with a pair of singles to load the bases. <span>Carlos Corporan</span> scored a run with a sac-fly and <span>Matt Dominguez</span> continued his success this series with an RBI single. Setting the stage for Bob, er <span>Robbie Grossman</span>.</p>
<p>Grossman deposited a hanging curveball into the right-field stands, driving in three runs. The offensive outburst put the Astros up 5-2 in the fourth. The Rangers would chip away with aggressive play on the basepaths. <span>Donnie Murphy</span>, after going first to third on a <span>Leonys Martin</span> single, scored when <span>J.P. Arencibia</span> grounded into a double play.</p>
<p><span>Elvis Andrus</span> would be the spark plug for the Rangers' offense all night - getting two hits, two walks, and scoring two runs. <span>Alex Rios</span> split the gap between the Astros defense for double, scoring Andrus to put the Rangers down one in the eighth. Rios neutralized his effort, as he was thrown out trying to steal third with no outs.</p>
<p>Bo Porter went with Houston's lone lefty in the pen <span>Kevin Chapman</span> to pitch the ninth. Left-handed bats <span>Mitch Moreland</span> and Leonys Martin were slated to bat in the inning. Ron Washington counted by sending up UT-Arlington product <span>Michael Choice</span> to bat for Moreland. It paid off, Choice timed the second straight fastball he faced and tied the game with a home run.</p>
<p>That all too familiar feeling of "oh well, at least they tried" crept after the game was tied. It was a fleeting as Jason Castro got a lucky bounce off the outfield wall that turned his hit from double to a triple. The Astros pint-size cleanup hitter, Jose Altuve, drove in pinch-runner <span>Marwin Gonzalez</span> with a deep sac-fly.</p>
<p>Elvis Andrus made every effort to spoil <span>Anthony Bass</span>' save attempt, he singled and stole second before an out was recorded. <span>Jonathan Villar</span> made arguably one of the best defensive play this season thus far in 2014, snagging a sharply hit Alex Rios grounder deep in the hole and gunned him out.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4289243/VillarDefense.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Villardefense_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4289243/VillarDefense_medium.gif"></a> <br id="1397377204986"></p>
<p>After an intentional walk to Prince Fielder. Andrus moved over to third on a wild pitch, and by that point I had no fingernails left. Bass struck out last night's hero <span>Kevin Kouzmanoff</span> and forced today's hero Michael Choice into a soft grounder to first to close out the game.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Jarred Cosart</span> wasn't dominate. He kept the team in the game when his breaking stuff wasn't at its best. The Rangers laid off his curveball for much of the night. Cosart pitched seven innings, allowing six hits, two walks, and striking out eight. Shin-Soo choo was completely baffled by Cosart, striking out four time against the Astros starter. Choo would strike out a fifth time the game to collect a platinum sombrero.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Shin-soochoo_usatsi_7770030" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/4291111/shin-soochoo_usatsi_7770030.0_medium.jpg"></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Matt Albers</span> made his first appearance since returning to the team in relief of Cosart. Alberts gave up his first earned run this season on the Alex Rios double in the eighth. To be frank, it could have been avoided. The previous pitch before the double looked to be strike three on Rios, and the Rangers broadcast showed more than half of the ball in the strike zone.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">There were questions on twitter, why we didn't see <span>Chad Qualls</span> or <span>Josh Fields</span> in the late innings? <span>Jerome Williams</span> would have also been another fine option. In defense of Bo Porter, I see what he wanted to do sending out the lefty to face to possible left-handed batters in the inning.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The top of the Astros lineup, <span>Dexter Fowler</span> and <span>Alex Presley</span>, went 0-for-10 in game - including four strikeouts.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">***</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It should be noted, Tanner Scheppers pitched an excellent game except for one inning. He didn't allow a hit outside of the fourth inning, and struck out six Astros.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">***</p>
<h4>
<span>Next </span><span>Matchup</span>
</h4>
<p><span>Brett Oberholtzer (0-2, 4.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) vs. Martin Perez (1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP)</span></p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/4/13/5609818/astros-even-series-with-rangers-win-6-5-in-the-10thRyan Dunsmore2014-04-12T21:49:25-05:002014-04-12T21:49:25-05:00Jose Altuve makes play and lives
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Jose Altuve makes a fine defensive play in shallow right fielder and lives to play another day.</p> <p>In the seventh inning of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lonestarball.com/">Rangers</a> game, <span>Jose Altuve</span> went out into shallow right field to make a an over-the-shoulder-sliding catch.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4288803/AltuveCatch.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Altuvecatch_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4288803/AltuveCatch_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p align="left">As you may have noticed <span>Alex Presley</span> was coming in hard and thankfully slide into Altuve instead of spearing or running him over. I would like to nominate <span>Jimmy Paredes</span> being waived by the Astros as the best move of the offseason so far. If it was Parades instead of Alex Presley in right field, Altuve would be dead right now or at the very least seriously injured.</p>
<p align="left">If you're unfamiliar with Jimmy Pareds allow me to enlighten you.</p>
<p align="left"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/5/14/4329850/jose-altuve-collision-jaw-astros">Paredes runs into Altuve.</a></p>
<p align="left">And then he runs into <span>Jake Elmore</span> to give the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> a walk-off win.</p>
<p align="center"> </p>
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<p align="center"><a href="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/2642527/ParedesBlowsit.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Paredesblowsit_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/assets/2642527/ParedesBlowsit_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p align="left">It's worth noting that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a> were the ones to claim Paredes from the Astros on November 4, 2013. He was then picked up February 15, 2014, on waivers by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a>. Then he was picked up February 17, 2014, on waivers by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.royalsreview.com/">Kansas City Royals</a>. He's currently playing with the Royals Class AAA club the Omaha Storm Chasers and doing quite well for himself. He is listed as the only third basemen by the Royals and not an outfielder.</p>
<p align="left">Well played Royals. Well played.</p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/4/12/5609358/jose-altuve-makes-over-the-shoulder-sliding-catch-and-lives-to-playTimothy De Block2014-04-12T19:49:26-05:002014-04-12T19:49:26-05:00Bo Porter likes to give birthday cake
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<figcaption>Bob Levey</figcaption>
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<p>Bo Porter is not above giving cake to those who cover this team.</p> <p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/4/11/5607012/bo-porter-is-a-hugger">A day after Bo Porter gave a hug</a> to his ace starter <span>Scott Feldman</span> for an emotional seven inning shutout performance, today he surprised CSN Houston sideline reporter Julia Morales with birthday cake.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4288235/PorterCake.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Portercake_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/assets/4288235/PorterCake_medium.gif"></a></p>
<p align="left">It looks like he starts singing happy birthday too. I love this man!</p>
<p align="left"><i>*Note to Porter: my birthday is coming up at the end of the month. I'd take a special happy birthday card in the mail or a phone call wishing me happy birthday. </i></p>
https://www.crawfishboxes.com/2014/4/12/5609102/bo-porter-likes-to-give-birthday-cakeTimothy De Block