Home runs from outfielders Robbie Grossman and George Springer lifted the Houston Astros over the Texas Rangers, 8-4, on Wednesday night in Arlington to complete a three-game sweep of Texas. More importantly, the win moved Houston out of last place for the first time in three months.
Astros sweep Rangers into last place in AL West
The lowly Astros, with an average 108 losses in the last three seasons, swept its in-state rivals to switch places in the standings.
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The victory lifted Houston (39-54, .419) percentage points ahead of the Rangers (38-53, .418) for fourth place in the five-team American League West, though both teams trail the first-place Athletics by 19 games.
The last time the Astros were not in last place was at the close of play on April 8, when at 3-5 they were in fourth place in the AL West.
Houston’s move up the standings may seem incremental, but the Astros are the first team in history to have the No. 1 pick in three consecutive MLB amateur drafts, the result of averaging 108 losses per year from 2011-2013. The club spent the final 177 days of the 2011 season in last place, it languished the final 88 days of 2012 in the cellar of the six-team National League Central, and in 2013 was in last place for the final 158 days of its first season in the AL West.
Even though the Astros are on pace for another 94 losses this season, even that is an improvement over the last three years, and that they beat Yu Darvish on Wednesday was another positive sign.
Darvish was 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA in his first six career starts against the Astros, which included two no-hit bids taken into the ninth inning and three starts of at least eight innings with just one hit allowed. Houston scores six runs in six innings against the Rangers ace to complete the sweep.
Wednesday’s win improved the Astros to 22-22 in their last 44 games. Houston still has a long way to go, but getting out of dead last is a step in the right direction.
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