20-38 - Rangers come back to deny Astros after 5-4 win in extras

The Texas Rangers scored five runs and the Houston Astros scored four runs in ten innings.

The Rangers were looking like they had a real opportunity to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft at one point tonight but the Pirates’ tank game is just on another level as they went from leading 3-1 in a one-hitter against Cleveland to allowing three runs in the ninth to lose.

Meanwhile, the Rangers trailed tonight 3-2 with two strikes and two outs in the ninth but a Ronald Guzman homer tied it and gave Texas new life. In the tenth, following an Astros run, the Rangers scored twice to win the game and erase any chance at pick No. 1.

On the positive side of things, with draft position no longer much of a concern, we can just go back to laughing at the Astros for losing to the Rangers and failing to clinch a playoff spot. Oh, and another plus while the tread was coming off the tank, Kyle Cody finished the season with an ERA of 1.59 in 22 ²⁄₃ innings spanning seven appearances and five starts.

Player of the Game: Sam Huff was admittedly a nervous wreck when he first joined the big league squad after never playing above high A ball previously. He looked the part in his first few games, which, I mean, who among us wouldn’t?

But the big catching prospect with the big power bat has started to get used to big league pitching and it seems like he’s starting to feel more like he can hang at this level. That showed in a big way tonight as he blasted two solo dongs and went 3-for-4 on the night.

It was, remarkably, the first multi-homer game by a Ranger all season and the first in over a year.

Up next: The Rangers will suit up for the penultimate game of the 2020 season with Kyle Gibson getting his first crack at Houston since his complete game shutout against them on Sept. 16. The Astros have not yet named a starter. Saturday’s first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 6:05 pm CT.