Astros fall to Rangers 5-1 on July 13 as Nathan Eovaldi dominates. Zack Short's first homer as an Astro was the only bright spot in the rivalry loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a tough Sunday afternoon in Arlington. Facing division-rival Texas, the Astros' bats went quiet, falling 5-1 in the series finale at Daikin Park. Former Astro Nathan Eovaldi was nearly unhittable, stifling Houston's lineup and reminding everyone why this Texas rivalry always runs deep. While the loss stings, a lone bright spot and a look at the standings offer some solace.
In a game where hits were scarce, Houston's only run came from an unlikely source: recent acquisition Zack Short, who belted his first home run as an Astro.
The story of the game was Nathan Eovaldi. The veteran right-hander carved through the Astros' lineup for 7⅔ innings, allowing just the one run on a handful of hits. The Rangers' offense provided him with plenty of support early on. Evan Carter's triple and Ezequiel Duran's ground-rule double put Texas on the board in the 2nd, followed by an Adolis García solo shot in the 3rd. The exclamation point came in the 8th when Marcus Semien launched his 250th career home run, capping a decisive victory for the home team.
When your team only musters one run, you look for any positive takeaway. On Sunday, that came from infielder Zack Short. In the top of the 6th inning, Short connected for a solo home run to left field, his first since joining the Astros. It was a brief moment of excitement in an otherwise frustrating offensive day, and a nice milestone for a player who has been making the most of his opportunities since being acquired by Houston.
Losing to the Rangers is never fun, but let's zoom out for a moment. Despite the defeat, the Astros' record stands at a solid 56-40. More importantly, they remain firmly in first place in the American League West. With the Seattle Mariners trailing by five games, Houston still has a healthy cushion. This loss snaps a brief one-game winning streak, but it doesn't change the fundamental fact that the Astros are the team to beat in the division.
Players like Zack Short highlight the Astros' need for productive depth, and the front office continues to work on stocking the pipeline. While the farm system's overall ranking isn't at the top of the league, the organization's philosophy remains consistent: bet on tools and develop contributors. We're seeing it with recent call-ups like Brice Matthews, an athletic infielder with impressive tools. The strategy is also evident in recent drafts, with the team targeting high-risk, high-reward athletes like Cam Smith and Walker Janek. The front office is banking on its development system to turn these prospects into future big-league pieces.
While the loss in Arlington serves as a reminder of the threat Texas poses, the Astros head home with their division lead intact. The key moving forward will be for the offense to find its consistency against tough pitching. With the second half of the season heating up, every series counts, and Houston will need to bounce back quickly to protect its perch atop the AL West.
