Astros at Rangers
Jason Castro enjoyed a fantastic Saturday and attempts to make Sunday equally enjoyable when the Houston Astros conclude a three-game series against the host Texas Rangers. Castro was named to the American League All-Star team, hit a tiebreaking three-run homer and threw out two base stealers as Houston recorded a 9-5 victory. The 26-year-old catcher is one of the building blocks for a young team and is batting .271 with 12 homers.
Texas blew a chance to move into first place in the American League West by losing Saturday, a defeat that snapped their six-game win streak against the Astros. Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 and hit his 22nd homer and also was named to the AL All-Star team, along with pitching teammates Yu Darvish and Joe Nathan. Houston’s victory was just its third in its last 12 games.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Houston, Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Erik Bedard (3-4, 4.59 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Justin Grimm (7-6, 5.84)
Bedard has a 2.16 ERA in two appearances against Texas this season, including a 3 1/3-inning relief appearance in which he recorded his first major-league save. He is 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 17 career appearances (16 starts) against the Rangers. Bedard lost to Tampa Bay in his last start when he allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings and issued a season-high six walks.
Grimm has an unsightly 9.31 ERA over his last six starts and has pitched five or fewer innings in four of them. He has given up nine homers during the stretch, and his ERA has risen nearly two full runs. Grimm won his lone career start against Houston last season when he gave up three runs and six hits in six innings in his major-league debut.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre is 9-for-15 over the past four games but has only a .182 average in 22 at-bats against Bedard.
2. Astros 1B Brett Wallace reached base five times Saturday on two hits, two walks and a hit by pitch.
3. Texas OF Leonys Martin has at least one hit in 18 of his last 19 games.