Humber falls to 0-8 as Rangers slip past Astros 8-7
HOUSTON - In the aftermath of an unexpectedly white-knuckle bottom of the ninth inning, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington delivered a line that would make deodorant execs line up with endorsement offers.
With closer Joe Nathan on the mound struggling to clean up the mess left by right-hander Michael Kirkman, Washington was left to watch the action unfold just like everyone else. Amazingly, he didn't fret.
"I don't sweat," Washington said. "All I could do was sit there. The ball was in the hands of the guy that I wanted to have it, and we just had to hope that he got us to three outs. And he did."
One night after bashing three home runs in their series-opening victory over the Houston Astros, Texas clubbed three more in an 8-7 win Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
For the third time this week, Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz struck the game-tying blow in the sixth inning, this time launching a two-run blast to center field off Philip Humber (0-8). Cruz cranked a solo shot in the sixth inning Friday night to spearhead Texas' 4-2 comeback victory.
"I guess I get more focused," said Cruz, whose two-run home run pulled the Rangers even with the Boston Red Sox on May 5. "It's something I can't explain; it's baseball. It's something I've been doing all my career."
The Astros (10-27) rallied for three runs in ninth inning before Nathan retired pinch hitter Chris Carter with a pop-up to shortstop Elvis Andrus to snuff the rally. With Robbie Grossman on first base and Carlos Corporan, Carlos Pena and Trevor Crowe already in via a run-scoring hit, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, Carter represented the winning run.
"I wish we could have battled all the way back," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "One, it speaks to the resiliency of this ballclub. I don't think it's ever going to leave us. It's part of who we are. At the same time, I'm looking forward to battling back in one of these here types and getting that big hit and walking somebody off."
The Rangers (23-13) recorded eight extra-base hits in support of ace right-hander Yu Darvish, who surrendered three runs on three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts over seven innings and 105 pitches.
Darvish (6-1) didn't flirt with perfection, but Texas' six-run sixth against a pair of beleaguered pitchers ensured near-perfection wasn't required.
The hype surrounding Darvish and his return to the scene of his near-perfect game on April 2 was inevitable. He provided a glimmer of hope that another special night was in the offing, retiring the first seven batters before Astros third baseman Matt Dominguez snuffed any budding suspense.
Dominguez turned on a 1-0 fastball in the third and launched his first homer of 2013, erasing the Rangers' 1-0 lead in the process. Dominguez added a two-run blast to left field in his second at-bat in the fifth, lifting the Astros to a surprising 3-1 lead and revealing Darvish as human.
The Rangers rendered that lead short-lived, chasing left-hander Erik Bedard, who pitched exceptionally in his return to the rotation: two runs, four hits, a walk with seven strikeouts over five innings.
Then they bashed Humber, who was making his second relief appearance following his demotion from the rotation earlier this week.
Cruz was the first of five consecutive batters to reach against Humber.
Mitch Moreland and Leonys Martin added triples while David Murphy recorded a run-scoring double. Andrus' RBI single completed Texas' cycle against Humber and ended his night with Texas leading 7-3.
"It's hard, but there's a lot worse things than struggling on a baseball field," Humber said. "I feel bad as far the team goes. I want to do the best I can for the team. It's not about me. I'm a man. I can handle struggling. It's disappointing because you put a lot of hard work and you don't get the results that you want. That's part of sports. That's why it's a competition. Not everybody gets success. It doesn't happen all the time. That's why you can't take ... for granted."
NOTES: Texas' ERA (3.18) entering Saturday was the lowest for the franchise through 35 games since 1983 (also 3.18). ... Rangers left-hander Robbie Ross had gone 49 appearances without picking up a win before Friday night. At 7-0 for his career, Ross has the second-most wins without a loss for any pitcher in major-league history (Clay Rapada, 8, 2007-12). ... Humber switched from No. 59 to No. 21, which he wore while leading Rice University to the 2003 College World Series title.
