An Astros fan thought Joey Gallo couldn’t hit “this” pitch. Boy, were they wrong.
Never, ever make such a declaration. It was bound to be a jinx.
The Astros were able to win at home against the Rangers on Saturday night by the score of 6-5, but that win would’ve been far easier to achieve had Gallo not gone deep in the top of the eighth inning, a play that scored two other baserunners. Suddenly, a 6-1 ballgame became 6-4.
Just before Gallo made contact, an Astros fan declared that there was no, possible way, that he was about to hit the ball thrown by Ryne Stanek. It turns out that was all the motivation Gallo needed.
The Texas Rangers are surprisingly competitive in 2021
The Rangers are by no means an automatic win early this season, sporting an 18-23 record that doesn’t exactly reflect just how competitive they’ve been. Close matchups against Houston, and even a recent series win over the Boston Red Sox show that if doubted, the Rangers can make you pay.
Gallo, in his own right, should be a trade target come the July 31 deadline. He’s a power threat on any contending team and can fetch a nice return for a Rangers team trying to rebuild quickly.
The Astros are prepared, however. Houston is now just a half-game back of the Oakland Athletics in the AL West despite an early-season slide. Winners of their last five and 8-2 in their last ten games, the Stros are rounding into form as we head into the summer months.