It was fitting that the Astros had to dig deep into their reconfigured bench in the latter stages of a 5-4, 11-inning victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday that evened this three-game series.
Before Zack Short stroked a walk-off single that scored Cam Smith from second base, Kenedy Corona worked a walk that loaded the bases earlier in the 11th.
Cooper Hummel struck out with one out in the 10th. Short, Corona and Hummel had a combined 93 plate appearances for Houston this season entering Saturday, as the Astros remain without several injured starters.
Two of those regulars, All-Star shortstop Jeremy Pena (ribs) and three-time All-Star Yordan Alvarez (hand), are inching closer to a return to action. The Astros have succeeded despite a patchwork lineup, and they have their hopes focused on the potential for being whole.
“I can’t wait,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I can’t wait to get all of those guys back. But while we wait, we have work to do. And my focus is on that work.”
Right-hander Hunter Brown (9-3, 2.21 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Sunday. The first-time All-Star leads the American League in ERA, adjusted ERA (185) and hits per nine innings (5.8).
Brown allowed a season-high six runs on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings but did not factor into the decision of a 10-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday. His strikeout total matched his season low set April 9 at Seattle.
Brown is 3-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 40 innings over seven career starts against the Rangers. He took a 1-0 loss at Texas on May 15 after allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts over eight innings.
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (6-3, 1.62) is scheduled to start the series rubber match for the Rangers. He is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three starts since returning from a month-long stint on the injured list (right elbow inflammation).
Eovaldi posted a quality start against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, allowing one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts over six innings in a 13-1 road victory. Before landing on the IL in late May, Eovaldi produced seven consecutive starts allowing one run or fewer, the longest such streak in franchise history.
Eovaldi is 3-5 with a 4.02 ERA in 71 2/3 innings over 13 career starts against the Astros, including a 2-2 mark and a 3.45 ERA over five starts in his hometown of Houston. He did not factor into the decision of the Rangers’ 6-3 home loss to the Astros on May 16 after working 5 2/3 scoreless innings with two hits and three walks on his ledger. Eovaldi recorded five strikeouts in that appearance.
The Rangers’ extra-inning loss on Saturday extended an exhausting close to the first half. Texas arrived from its four-game series against the Angels just before dawn on Friday. And after making short work of the Astros in the series opener (7-3), the Rangers held optional batting practice on Saturday in deference to any fatigue that might have lingered into the second game of the three-game set.
With the first half set to conclude on Sunday, Texas will battle another foe besides the Astros.
“You guard against saying that word (tired),” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Hey, this is part of the schedule, and these guys have been great. Didn’t mention it (Friday). No one’s talking about it (Saturday). We come out and play the game.”