43-62 - Ho hum! Tocci, Gallardo lead Texas to easy victory over hapless Houston

Tonight’s game felt like it was ripped straight out of a better, way more pleasant dimension where Carlos Tocci is a solid big league caliber player and Yovani Gallardo in 2018 is top quality starter and the Rangers are running roughshod through baseball and the Astros are the trash heap that destiny has always intended for them to be.

For three hours, on July 27, 2018, it was almost like this universe was trying to right itself.

Player of the Game: This Yo Gallardo thing is bananas, man.

Gallardo, after a fine season with the Rangers in 2015, did what all fading players do when they leave Texas, he joined the Orioles. In 2016, Gallardo was not very good in Baltimore and eventually found his way to the Mariners where he was even worse in 2017.

In 2018, Gallardo was so bad for a terrible Reds team that he was ditched after allowing eight runs in three games of relief. Gallardo latched on with his hometown team on a minor league deal and apparently found something as he’s now 5-1 with Texas in seven starts and, in his two starts since the All-Star break, he’s allowed zero runs to the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros in 11 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched.

Yovani Gallardo: 2018 staff ace.

Up Next: Ariel Jurado rejoins the Rangers to make his second big league start. Justin Verlander will be making what is probably his 1,000th big league start for Houston. First pitch from Minute Maid is scheduled for 6:10 pm CT.