*Photo from MLB.com*
Moments like this are another reason why baseball is an incredible sport. Martin Maldonado homered and drove in 3 RBI's, Luis Garcia and Phil Maton made history, and the Houston Astros routed the Texas Rangers with a 9-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon in Arlington.
The Astros picked up their second straight win to clinch the series win, but all the attention was on Garcia and Maton. Garcia fired an immaculate inning in the second inning, striking out 3 hitters on 3 pitches each, a 9 pitch inning. That's rare enough, but then Maton did the same in the 7th inning, and Maldonado didn't realize it at first.
Maldonado said after the game that "Everybody in the dugout was like, ‘I need that ball! I need that ball!' To be a part of that, any time you make history, that's something as any player you’re proud of. I’m glad I was the catcher in that situation."
The two immaculate innings in the same game by Maton and Garcia mark the first time in MLB history that such a feat has been accomplished. It gets even crazier too. Both Garcia and Maton did it against the same 3 Rangers hitters, striking out Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran, and Brad Miller to accomplish the immaculate innings.
Garcia said of accomplishing history that "It feels so good, because it’s history. I’m so happy for me and for Phil. I don’t know what to say. I’m just happy."
When the top of the first inning ended, the Astros already had a 6-0 lead before Garcia took the mound. Yordan Alvarez hit a two run double, Kyle Tucker had an RBI groundout, Jose Siri hit an RBI single, and Maldonado hit a two run double as well. In the bottom of the first, Adolis Garcia scored on an error to make it a 6-1 game.
In the 3rd inning of play, Corey Seager got the Rangers one run closer. Seager whacked a solo home run to right field, cutting the deficit to 6-2 after 3 innings. In the 4th, Maldonado hit a solo home run of his own, this one going to center field, making it a 7-2 game. In the 8th inning, a two run home run from Yuli Gurriel sealed a 9-2 victory.
Maton said of his immaculate inning that "It's super cool. It’s not something you go out here every day and obviously strive to do. Obviously, you're trying to strike out every hitter you face. Still kind of trying to wrap my head around it. Cool experience."
It was Garcia who got the win for the Astros, allowing two runs on 4 hits, striking out 9 hitters over 6 innings pitched. Maton then fired an immaculate 7th inning, giving way to Seth Martinez, who added a scoreless 8th inning. Brandon Bielak closed out the game with a sharp 9th inning.
For the Rangers, Tyson Miller got the start in a bullpen game, and got beaten around, allowing 6 runs while recording just two outs. Jesus Tinoco came on and threw 2 1/3 shutout innings of immediate relief, allowing just one baserunner. Kolby Allard then pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 runs. Utility player Charlie Culberson pitched a scoreless 9th.
Rangers manager Chris Woodward said of Tinoco's game that "I don’t know if it was because he was in Colorado last year, but that slider doesn’t play the same there. It's just a tough place to pitch consistently. We recognized the slider when we signed this guy, and we signed him for that reason. He's honestly got a plus fastball and good sinker, too. If the ball is in play, it's usually a weak ground ball or he punches them out. That's what we keep seeing over and over again."
Up next, the Rangers get back in action on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, with Martin Perez drawing the series opening start. After a day off on Thursday, the Astros welcome the Chicago White Sox to town on Friday, with Framber Valdez scheduled to start.
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