17-18 - Pence pounced but Rangers still stymied by ‘stros 4-2

Tonight’s game really needed a two-out, 8th inning game-tying grand slam or something because boy did it seem incredibly mundane (at least until a certain incredibly rude thing happened at the end there).

I guess that makes sense as the Rangers had all of three hits on the night and the Astros were just handing away opportunities to score for most of the night.

At least it didn’t rain inside the enclosed retractable roof stadium they have down there in Houston or anything...

Oh.

Player of the Game: I was wrong about Hunter Pence being a mascot signing and were it not for his home run, the Rangers would have been shut out tonight. Pence is now 5-for-7 with three dingers, two doubles, and 10 RBIs so far on this road trip. He also very nearly hit a go-ahead three-run dong in the ninth but was robbed at the wall by Josh Reddick.

Up Next: The Rangers and Astros will go back at it on Friday night from Houston with Lance Lynn set to make the start for Texas against Justin Verlander for Houston. First pitch from Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 7:10 pm CT.