Interleague Preview from The Sports Network
Sunday, June 17th
(All times Eastern)
Houston Astros (27-38) at Texas Rangers (39-27), 3:05 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Houston - Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 0.00)
Texas - Colby Lewis (5-5, 3.13)
(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers will be trying to complete their fourth
series sweep of the season this afternoon when they take on the Houston Astros
in the finale of a three-game interleague series at Rangers Ballpark in
Arlington.
The Rangers got the win in the second game of the series on Saturday behind a
gutsy performance from rookie Justin Grimm who made his major league debut in
the game.
Grimm got a rough welcome to the big leagues when Jed Lowrie hit a solo home
run in the first inning, but Grimm settled down until the fifth inning when he
gave up a pair of runs. Grimm's final stat line was good enough to earn his
first win, as he allowed three runs on six hits over six innings while
striking out seven.
The Rangers' offense was kept quiet by Houston starter Lucas Harrell through
the first five innings before exploding in the sixth inning.
Adrian Beltre led off the scoring in the sixth with a bases loaded single that
scored a pair of runs. The next batter up was Nelson Cruz who launched the
ball into the left field seats for a three-run home run, his ninth of the
season.
Harrell was unable to get out of the sixth inning and was taken out after
pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing the five runs on seven hits.
The Rangers would add a pair of runs in the seventh and another in the eighth
to take the 8-3 victory. Ian Kinsler was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in
the game as well for Texas.
Jordan Schafer went 3-for-4 in the game with an RBI for Houston which has lost
four of its last five including a 6-2 loss in the opening game of the series
on Friday night.
Coming off his second straight complete game, Colby Lewis will be making the
start for the Rangers in the series finale.
Lewis pushed his record to an even 5-5 with a dominating performance
against Arizona in his last time out. The right-hander finished off the entire
nine innings allowing just one run on four hits while striking out seven.
In the start before that he took a loss in a 2-0 decision at Oakland despite
pitching all eight innings.
The 32-year-old veteran has been the Rangers' most consistent pitcher so far
this season. He leads all Texas starters with an ERA of 3.13 while also
holding the team lead in innings pitched (89.0). He is second in strikeouts
with 74 as well.
Lewis has excelled in his career against Houston. He is 3-1 with a 2.02 ERA in
five career starts against the Astros and has already picked up a win against
them this season when on May 20th he allowed one run on four hits over innings
in a 6-1 Rangers victory.
For the second straight day a pitcher will be making his major league debut in
this series, as 24-year-old lefty Dallas Keuchel takes the mound for the
Astros. The former Arkansas Razorback was called up to take the spot of Bud
Norris who is still recovering from a sprained knee.
Keuchel, a seventh round draft pick in 2009, has spent the 2012 season in
Triple-A with the Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Pacific Coast League. He is
5-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 13 starts this season.
This is the second and final meeting of the season between these Lone Star
State rivals. The Rangers took two of the first three back on May 18-20 at
Minute Maid Park and have now won 18 of the last 23 matchups dating back to
2009.
06/17 10:35:50 ET

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