Texas Rangers Knock Out Houston Astros Starter Framber Valdez, Evan Carter Enters ALCS Game 2
The start of Game 2 of the American League Championship Series couldn’t have gone any better for the Texas Rangers on a few fronts.
Not only did the Rangers, already up 1-0 in the series after winning Sunday, open the first inning Monday afternoon at Minute Maid Park with a four-run barrage, Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez was knocked out of the contest before the third inning was done.
That was key, not only because Valdez owns one Houston’s better arms, but it’s a left-handed one. That kept red-hot Texas rookie Evan Carter out of the starting lineup for the second game of the best-of-seven series.
The Rangers held on to win 5-4 to take a 2-0 lead as the series shifts to Arlington for Game 3 on Wednesday. Game 4 and 5, if necessary, is also at Globe Life Field.
Carter, a left-handed hitter, has struggled against lefties since coming up to the big leagues last month, going just 1-for-15 with nine strikeouts. The Rangers started Robbie Grossman in left field and in the three-hole in the batting order.
“With Carter, he just has not had a lot of bats off of lefties,” Bochy said pregame. “I think 15 here. He’s a young kid. This is a tough left-hander, and I know he gets a lot of strikeouts. You can look at the splits, a little bit reverse, but Robbie has experience here playing left field. But Carter, he’ll be involved at some point.”
That happened sooner than expected.
Once Astros manager Dusty Baker yanked Valdez in the third – shortly after surrendering a towering home run to Jonah Heim that gave the Rangers a 5-1 lead – Texas skipper Bruce Bochy was free to turn back to Carter.
Houston has nothing but righties in the bullpen, including Rafael Montero who came in for Valdez. Carter, who has punished right-handers so far in this young career, entered the game in the bottom of the third replacing Grossman.
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