Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball: 2023 ALCS Game 2-Texas Rangers at Houston Astros

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball’. This Afternoon, it is Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros.
 
The Rangers took Game 1, thanks to Jonah Heim and Leody Tavares. And now Texas looks to head back to Arlington up 2-0.
 
For the Astros, they dropped Game 1. And now they would like to salvage a game in Houston.
 
Game 2 Starting Pitchers are right-hander Nathan Eovaldi for the Rangers. While the Astros will start left-hander Framber Valdez.
 
It is Houston Astros and Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the 2023 American League Championship Series. Game 2 will begin shortly.
 
 
Texas Rangers:

1. Marcus Semien (RHB), 2B
2. Corey Seager (LHB), SS
3. Robbie Grossman (SHB), LF
4. Adolis García (RHB), RF
5. Mitch Garver (RHB), DH
6. Jonah Heim (SHB), C
7. Nathaniel Lowe (LHB), 1B
8. Josh Jung (RHB), 3B
9. Leody Tavares (RHB), CF

 
Houston Astros:

1. Jose Altuve (RHB), 2B
2. Alex Bregman (RHB), 3B
3. Kyle Tucker (LHB), RF
4. Yordan Alvarez (LHB), DH
5. José Abreu (RHB), 1B
6. Michael Brantley (LHB), LF
7. Chas McCormick (RHB), CF
8. Jeremy Peña (RHB), SS
9. Martín Maldonado (RHB), C

2023 ALCS Game 2: Texas Rangers at Houston Astros

Rangers are in their traveling gray uniforms, with blue caps. While the Astros are in their navy jerseys, caps, and white pants.

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Semien
2. Seager
3. Grossman
Framber Valdez (LHP) now starting as Houston Astros Pitcher.
​First Pitch around 3:39 pm CDT.
Semien hits a lead-off single to left center field (1 pitch). Runner on 1st.
Seager singles to left field (1 pitch). Semien advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Grossman reaches on a throwing error by Valdez (5 pitches). Semien scores. Seager advances to 3rd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. TEX 1, HOU 0
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #1: Mound Visits Remaing (MVR)-TEX 5, HOU 4
RBI-SINGLE: Garcia hits a RBI-Single to right field (1 pitch). Seager scores. Grossman advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd. TEX 2, HOU 0
RBI-SINGLE: Garver hits a RBI-Single to left field (2 pitches). Grossman scores. Garcia advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd. TEX 3, HOU 0
Heim strikes out on a foul tip caught by Maldonado (3 pitches). 1 out..
RBI-SINGLE: Lowe hits a RBI-Single to left field (3 pitches). Garcia scores. Garver advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd. TEX 4, HOU 0
Jung strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 2 outs.
Taveras calls for a batter timeout.
Taveras flies out to McCormick (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Rangers scored 4 runs, in their half of 1st Inning.

Middle of 1st Inning:
TEX 4, HOU 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Altuve
2. Bregman
3. Tucker
Nathan Eovaldi (RHP) now starting as Rangers Pitcher.
​Altuve flies out to A. Garcia (7 pitches). 1 out.
Bregman grounds out to Jung (1 pitch). 2 outs.
Tucker lines out to Lowe (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 1st Inning.

End of 1st Inning:
TEX 4, HOU 0

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
1. Semien, 1-1
2. Seager, 1-1
3. Grossman, 0-1
Valdez currently at 26 pitches.
​Semien hits a lead-off single to left field (1 pitch). Runner on 1st.
Seager strikes out swinging (8 pitches). 1 out.
Grossman reaches on a 6-4 fielder's choice (1 pitch). Semien is out at 2nd. Runner on 1st. 2 outs.
Garcia calls for a batter timeout.
A. Garcia gets hit by a pitcher (5 pitches). Grossman advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Valdez calls for timeout.
Garver strikes out swinging (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Rangers strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
TEX 4, HOU 0

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Alvarez
5. Abreu
6. Brantley
Eovaldi currently at 11 pitches.
​HOME RUN: Yordan Alvarez hits a solo home run off Nathan Eovaldi (4 pitches). TEX 4, HOU 1
Abreu grounds out to Jung (2 pitches). 1 out.
Brantley gets called out on strikes (3 pitches). 2 outs.
McCormick grounds out to Jung (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros scored a run, off the homer by Yordan Alvarez.

End of 2nd Inning:
TEX 4, HOU 1

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
6. Heim, 0-1
7. Lowe, 1-1, RBI
8. Jung, 0-1
Valdez currently at 44 pitches.
​HOME RUN: Jonah Heim hits a solo home run off Framber Valdez (4 pitches). TEX 5, HOU 1
Lowe strikes out swinging (7 pitches). 1 out.
Rafael Montero (RHP) warming up in Rangers Bullpen.
Jung strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Taveras draws a base on balls (5 pitches). Runner on 1st.
PITCHING CHANGE: Rafael Montero (RHP) replaces Framber Valdez, as Houston Astros Pitcher. TEX 5, HOU 1
​With Semien at-bat, Montero attempts a pickoff on Taveras.
STOLEN BASE: With Semien at-bat, Taveras steals 2nd Base. Runner on 2nd.
Semien strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Rangers scored a run, off the homer by Jonah Heim.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 1

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Pena
9. Maldonado
1. Altuve, 0-1
Eovaldi currently at 22 pitches.
DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Evan Carter replaces Robbie Grossman at left field. 
​Pena flies out to Garcia (6 pitches). 1 out.
Maldonado strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Altuve grounds out to Seager (1 pitch). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.

End of 3rd Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 1

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Seager
3. Carter
4. A. Garcia
Montero still pitching for Astros.
Seager lines out to McCormick (2 pitches). 1 out.
Carter flies out to Brantley (4 pitches). 2 outs.
A. Garcia strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 3 outs.
Rangers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning.

Middle of 4th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 1

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Bregman, 0-1
3. Tucker, 0-1
4. Y. Alvarez, 1-1, HR, RBI
Eovaldi currently at 33 pitches.
HOME RUN: Alex Bregman hits a solo home run off Nathan Eovaldi (5 pitches). TEX 5, HOU 2
​Tucker pops out to Jung (1 pitch). 1 out.
Y. Alvarez gets called out on strikes (5 pitches). 2 outs.
Abreu calls for timeout. 
Abreu strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros scored a run, off the solo home run by Alex Bregman.

End of 4th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 2

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Garver, 1-2, RBI
6. Heim, 1-2, HR, RBI
7. Lowe, 1-2, RBI
​PITCHING CHANGE: J.P. France (RHP) replaces Rafael Montero, as Houston Astros Pitcher. 
Garver fouls out to Bregman (3 pitches). 1 out.
Heim flies out to Tucker (7 pitches). 2 outs.
Lowe flies out to McCormick (4 pitches).3 outs.
Rangers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 5th Inning.

Middle of 5th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 2

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Brantley, 0-1
7. McCormick, 0-1
8. Pena, 0-1
Eovaldi currently at 50 pitches.
​Brantley hits a lead-off single to left center field (7 pitches). Runner on 1st.
McCormick singles to center field (3 pitches). Brantley advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
RANGERS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR-TEX 4, HOU 4
Pena reaches on a fielder's choice (2 pitches). Bases Loaded.
Andrew Heaney (LHP) warming up in Rangers Bullpen.
PINCH-HITTING: Yainer Diaz pinch-hitting for Martin Maldonado.
Diaz strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 1 out.
Altuve strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Bregman grounds out to Jung (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros strand the bases loaded.

End of 5th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 2

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Jung, 0-2
9. Taveras, 0-1
1. Semien, 2-3
France currently at 14 pitches.
​DEFENSIVE SWITCH: Yainer Diaz stays in the game, playing catcher.
Jung lines out to McCormick (4 pitches). 1 out.
Taveras triples to center field (5 pitches). Runner on 3rd.
DOUBLE PLAY: Semien lines out to Bregman, unassisted (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Rangers side is retired.

Middle of 6th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 2

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Tucker, 0-2
4. Y. Alvarez, 1-2, HR, RBI
5. Abreu, 0-2
​Eovaldi currently at 74 pitches.
Tucker strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
Alvarez draws a base on balls (5 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Abreu strikes out swinging (3 pitches). 2 outs.
RBI-DOUBLE: Brantley hits a RBI-Double to left center field (2 pitches). Alvarez scores. TEX 5, HOU 3
McCormick strikes out swinging (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros scored a run, but stranded a base runner.

End of 6th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 3

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Seager, 1-2
3. Carter, 0-1
4. A. Garcia, 1-2, RBI
​France currently at 25 pitches.
Seager strikes out swinging (7 pitches). 1 out.
Carter calls for a batter timeout.
Carter draws a base on balls (6 pitches). Runner on 1st.
PITCHING CHANGE: Phil Maton (RHP) replaces J.P. France, as Houston Astros Pitcher.
​Garcia grounds out to Bregman (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Garver grounds out to Maton (3 pitches). 3 outs.

Middle of 7th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 3

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Pena, 0-2
9. Y. Diaz, 0-1
1. Altuve, 0-3
PITCHING CHANGE: Josh Sborz (RHP) replaces Nathan Eovaldi, as Rangers Pitcher.
Pena calls for a batter timeout.
Pena grounds out to Seager (6 pitches). 1 out.
Y. Diaz grounds out to Seager (3 pitches). 2 outs.
​Bryan Abreu (RHP) warming up in Astros Bullpen.
Altuve gets called out on strikes (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

End of 7th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 3

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Heim, 1-3, HR, RBI
7. Lowe, 1-3, RBI
8. Jung, 0-3
PITCHING CHANGE: Bryan Abreu (RHP) replaces Phil Maton, as Houston Astros Pitcher.
​Heim strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
Lowe flies out to Pena (1 pitch). 2 outs.
Jung strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Rangers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 8th Inning.

Middle of 8th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 3

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Bregman, 1-3, HR, RBI
3. Tucker, 0-3
4. Y. Alvarez, 1-2, HR, RBI
PITCHING CHANGE: Aroldis Chapman (LHP) replaces Josh Sborz, as Rangers Pitcher.
​Bregman flies out to Taveras (1 pitch). 1 out.
Tucker grounds out to Semien (6 pitches). 2 outs.
HOME RUN: Yordan Alvarez hits his 2nd homer of Game 2 (1 pitch)! This time off Aroldis Chapman. TEX 5, HOU 4
PITCHING CHANGE: Jose Leclerc (RHP) replaces Aroldis Chapman, as Rangers Pitcher.
​Abreu draws a base on balls (5 pitches). Runner on 1st.
RANGERS MOUND VISIT #3: TEX 2, HOU 4
Brantley draws a base on balls (4 pitches). Abreu moves to 2nd.  Runners on 1st & 2nd.
McCormick grounds into an unassisted fielder's choice by Jung (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros scored a run, off the 2nd homer by Yordan Alvarez. 

End of 8th Inning:
TEX 5, HOU 3

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Taveras, 1-2
1. Semien, 2-4
2. Seager, 1-4
​PITCHING CHANGE: Ryan Pressly (RHP) replaces Bryan Abreu, as Houston Astros Pitcher.
​Taveras draws a base on balls (4 pitches). Runner on 1st.
With Semien at-bat, Taveras advances to 2nd on a wild pitch by Pressly. Runner on 2nd.
Semien strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 1 out.
Seager grounds out to Abreu, unassisted (3 pitches). 2 outs.
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #2: TEX 2, HOU 3
Carter grounds out to Altuve (8 pitches). 3 outs.
Rangers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 9th Inning.

Middle of 9th Inning:
​TEX 5, HOU 4

Bottom of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Pena, 0-3
9. Y. Diaz, 0-2
1. Altuve, 0-4
Leclerc currently at 12 pitches.
Pena calls for a batter timeout.
Pena flies out to A. Garcia at the right field warning track (4 pitches). 1 out.
Y. Diaz grounds out to Jung (3 pitches). 2 outs.
Altuve flies out to Taveras (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, to end Game 2.

Final:
TEX 5, HOU 4
W: Eovaldi (3-0)
L: Valdez (0-2)
SV: Leclerc (3)
PoG: Y. Alvarez (HOU) 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RB
ToG: 3:02

Texas Rangers Lead ALCS 2-0.

Final Thoughts:
Rangers started off the game, by scoring 4 runs in the Top of 1st Inning. Then they got a solo homer by Jonah Heim. And Nathan Eovaldi and Rangers Pitching Staff were able to hold off Yordan Alvarez and the Astros.

For the Astros, a throwing error by Framber Valdez and leaving the bases loaded, for the 2nd game in a row were the difference in their Game 2 loss. 

Both teams will head to Arlington. Game 3 will start on Wednesday Night. Astros have yet to announce their Game 3 starter. While the Rangers will start Max Scherzer. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this post.