6-11 - Bartolo Colon was nearly perfect as Rangers take series with 3-1 win

Bartolo Colon was on his way to throwing the most hilarious, unlikely Perfect Game in baseball history but the Rangers will have to settle for a series win in Houston instead.

I thought the Astros were supposed to be good?

The Rangers had just one hit themselves while Colon was rolling along in front of the national TV audience. At the time, the offensive struggles didn’t look like they would matter because that lone hit was a solo home run off the bat of Robinson Chirinos against a nearly-equally as dominant Justin Verlander.

Up 1-0, and with Colon cruising for seven innings of perfection, we were having the most fun we might end up having all season.

Nevertheless, Colon wouldn’t reach perfection but, similar to yesterday’s victory, the Rangers were able to hold off the Astros and win the game with a tenth inning rally. Joey Gallo and Ronald Guzman scored on offensive hero Chirinos’ double to give Texas a lead in the extra frame that they would not relinquish.

Texas has now won on consecutive days for the first time this season and have their first series win on the year and it came against the Champion Astros in Houston thanks in no small part to Bartolo Colon turning into Colby Lewis doing a Greg Maddux impression just like we all predicted.

Player of the Game: Colon was perfect through seven innings and threw a first pitch strike to all but a couple of Astros in his 7 ²⁄₃ innings of work. It was a master class in command, location, and movement for the 44-year-old living meme.

Colon didn’t end up with the perfect game or a no-hitter, or a CGSO, or even a win but he won our hearts and admiration and made baseball a joyful experience for a team and fanbase that needed it.

Up Next: The Rangers travel to Tampa to take on the Rays. Martin Perez will pitch for Texas with LHP Blake Snell set to start for Tampa Bay. First pitch from The Trop with its delicious center field camera is scheduled for 6:10 pm CT.