AROUND THE HORN
Astros: Starter Luis Garcia and reliever Phil Maton each threw an immaculate inning — nine pitches, three strikeouts — after a big opening offensive outburst for the Astros. Martín Maldonado, their 35-year-old veteran catcher, was in the middle of it all. Maldonado had a two-run double in the Astros’ six-run first on manager Dusty Baker’s 73rd birthday, later homered and was behind the plate for all the strikeouts — 14 in all — as the AL West leaders wrapped up their seventh consecutive series victory against the Rangers with a 9-2 win Wednesday in Arlington, Texas. “To be part of that, anytime you make history ... I’m glad I was catching in that situation,” Maldonado said. “We hadn’t had a first inning inning like that in a long time,” Baker said. “A couple of records, the same guys we struck them out back-to-back-to-back with nine pitches . ... So it was a good day for us.” Garcia (4-5) fanned nine without a walk over six innings while limiting the Rangers to two runs and four hits. He had a span of five consecutive strikeouts that began with his immaculate second inning — only nine pitches to strike out Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran and Brad Miller. Those were the first three batters Maton faced after replacing Garcia to start the seventh. And Maton also recorded a nine-pitch, three-strikeout inning. “We obviously knew they were cruising pretty good,” Miller said. “I wish I would have taken some better swings, and wish they didn’t get it.” Astros and Rangers officials said it was the first time in MLB history to have two nine-pitch, three-strikeout innings in the same game — either both by one team, or each team recording one. The only other immaculate inning in the majors this season was by Yankees starter Nestor Cortes on
April 17 against the Orioles.
Phillies: Garrett Stubbs hit a three-run HR with two out in the ninth, sending the Phillies to a dramatic 3-1 victory over the Marlins. Alec Bohm sparked the winning rally with a one-out single against Tanner Scott (2-2). Pinch-hitter J.T. Realmuto walked before Yairo Muñoz struck out swinging for the second out. That brought Stubbs to the plate, and he drove a 2-2 slider deep to right for his third HR of the season. He admired the drive for a few seconds before yelling toward the Phillies’ dugout and throwing his bat down in celebration. It was his first career game-ending HR. The Phillies improved to 10-2 since interim manager Rob Thomson replaced the fired Joe Girardi. Kyle Gibson pitched eight-plus innings for the Phillies before Connor Brogdon (2-0) got three outs for the victory.
Rockies: Setup man Tyler Kinley will likely miss the rest of the season with a flexor tear in his right elbow. He’s scheduled to undergo a procedure, and Rockies manager Bud Black didn’t rule out the need for Tommy John surgery. “That answer will probably be clearer when he has the procedure, but I’m thinking this is going to cost him this season,” Black said. The 31-year-old Kinley was off to the best start of his career, sporting a 0.75 ERA over 25 appearances. He allowed just two earned runs and 21 hits in 24 innings, while striking out 27 and walking six.
Extra innings: Whit Merrifield broke a 2-2 tie with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly and the Royals edged the host Giants 3-2 to avoid a three-game sweep. The Royals snapped a fourgame skid, while ending the Giants’ five-game winning streak . ... The Rays placed RHP Drew Rasmussen on the 15-day IL because of a strained left hamstring. The