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Jordan Montgomery's Historic Gem Lifts Texas Rangers Over Houston Astros in ALCS Game 1

The Texas Rangers got yet another scoreless outing from Jordan Montgomery, riding the veteran's gem to a Game 1 victory against the Houston Astros.
Sam Connon|
Jordan Montgomery's Historic Gem Lifts Texas Rangers Over Houston Astros in ALCS Game 1
Jordan Montgomery's Historic Gem Lifts Texas Rangers Over Houston Astros in ALCS Game 1

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Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers eked out a win over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday night, thanks in large part to starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery.

Montgomery tossed 6.1 scoreless innings in the series opener, allowing just five hits and one walk on the night. Texas' bullpen took it from there, eventually closing out the 2-0 victory at Minute Maid Park.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, Montgomery is now the second pitcher in Rangers history to post multiple scoreless outings of 6.0-plus innings in a playoff career. The lefty's first such performance came less than two weeks ago.

Montgomery also did not allow a run in his 7.0 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series on Oct. 3.

Texas picked up Montgomery in a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals at the MLB Trade Deadline in July. In 11 starts with the Rangers down the stretch, Montgomery went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA and 1.094 WHIP.

The 30-year-old Montgomery has never made an All-Star Game, and the closest he's gotten to an individual award is a sixth-place finish for AL Rookie of the Year with the New York Yankees back in 2017.

Montgomery, who had made two appearances in the postseason entering 2023, now has a playoff ERA of 1.88 for his career.

Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Rangers in Game 2 on Monday, while Framber Valdez is slated to start for the Astros. First pitch is scheduled for 4:37 p.m. ET.

Eovaldi has a 2.70 ERA in his playoff career, and a 1.32 ERA through two starts this postseason.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer covering baseball for “Fastball on SI.’’ He previously covered UCLA Athletics for On SI’s All Bruins site, and is a UCLA graduate, with his work there as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for On SI’s New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Sam lives in Boston.

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