Mitch Moreland’s homer helps Texas Rangers defeat Houston Astros 5-4 – MLB Update
Texas Rangers’ first baseman, Mitch Moreland was impressive with his bat as he went 1-for-5 and hit a solo home-run in the decisive inning to give the Rangers a 5-4 victory over the Houston Astros at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas on June 21.
It was the second game of the series and the Rangers outclassed the Astros by securing a three-game series 2-0.
The Astros’ batters showed an exemplary play at the start as they got a 1-0 lead during the first inning. Jeff Keppinger singled to right centre and Michael Bourn posted the initial run of the game to lift the momentum of the Astros.
In the second inning, the Rangers got off the mark with a single and tied the game 1-all. Michael Young hit a one-run homer (376 feet) towards right field. The Astros went ahead 3-1 during the third inning when Jason Bourgeois added the first run on the
drive of Bourn to centre-field and he posted the second run when Keppinger singled to left centre.
The Rangers’ batters were able to reduce their lead 3-2 in the fourth inning when Nelson Cruz struck a solo homer (406 feet) to left field. During the fifth and sixth inning, the pitchers did not permit any run to the batters by throwing in a perfect line.
Moreland said, “My ultimate goal was to try to get on base and get something started, and I was able to end it all on one swing.”
C.J. Wilson permitted four runs on 11 hits including four earned runs in over six inning pitches and threw the ball with an ERA of 3.17. He did not give away any walk on his 107 pitches and had four strike-outs. The Rangers’ manager, Ron Washington commented
on Wilson and said, “He was fighting the whole time he was out there.”
During the seventh inning, the Astros were leading and the score-board advanced to 4-3. Clint Barmes added a single run for the Astros while Taylor Teagarden contributed one run when Endy Chavez tripled off the deep right field. The game again levelled 4-4
in the eighth inning when Josh Hamilton homered (431 feet) to right field.
The game remained equal until the 10th inning but the Rangers went ahead 5-4 during the 11th inning when Moreland struck a solo homer (422 feet) to right-field.
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