The Houston Astros made history in their 9-2 win over the Texas Rangers. They became the first MLB team with two immaculate innings on the same day. The achievement becomes even more impressive when you know this is the first time two immaculate innings took place on the same day, regardless of the team.
Starter Luis Garcia kicked things off for the Astros with an immaculate inning in the second. He struck out Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran, and Brad Miller and needed only nine pitches to do it.
Reliever Phil Maton stepped up for Garcia in the seventh inning and then proceeded to imitate his performance from the second inning. Maton also faced Lowe, Duran, and Miller and proceeded to strike them out with only nine pitches.
The two immaculate innings got the Astros’ total to nine in franchise history. They are now tied for most all-time with the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“We hadn’t had a first-inning like that in a long time,” said Astros’ manager Dusty Baker. “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.”
The Astros wrapped up the day with a 9-2 win that lifted them to a 39-24 record and further cemented their place at the top of the AL West.
