Rangers pounce on Astros from the first pitch of Game 2

HOUSTON -- The Rangers are off to one of the best starts in postseason history -- so dominant, in fact, that Texas has trailed at the end of only ONE full inning in seven playoff games, the fewest through the first seven games of any single postseason, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

While the postseason heroics keep coming from all angles -- “Big Game Nate” dealing again, Evan Carter’s Game 1-saving catch or a bullpen rising from the ashes and to the occasion -- the one constant for Texas has been the deep, vaunted lineup that propelled the club to the playoffs in the first place.

That lineup came ready to play in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, as the Rangers stayed undefeated in their first seven playoff games with a 5-4 win over the Astros on Monday at Minute Maid Park.

Texas pounced on Astros starter Framber Valdez as soon as he took the mound, with Marcus Semien and Corey Seager singling off the left-hander’s first two pitches.

Then, after a throwing and fielding error from Valdez allowed Robbie Grossman to reach and Semien to score, the Rangers kept their foot on the pedal. Three more batters singled in the top of the first, giving Texas a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish.

“We’re jumping on teams early,” third baseman Josh Jung said. “And that helps us all settle in. … It just leads to us being confident, relaxing a little bit and just playing ball.”

That’s what the Rangers have done all postseason -- leap out to early leads on the back of a lineup that runs deep one through nine, and never let them go.

“More than anything, [when] we put the ball in play, good things happen,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We get a break on that swing and bunt. We had good at-bats. We just kept things moving.”

Texas is as familiar with Valdez as almost any pitcher in the Majors. The Astros’ ace, who is known for his ground ball-inducing sinker, entered with a 2.90 ERA in 16 career appearances (13 starts) vs. the Rangers, dating back to April 2, 2019.

But in the first postseason chapter of Framber vs. the Rangers, Texas came out on top. Four of the first five singles came off his sinker. The Rangers jumped to a 3-0 lead before the left-hander could even record his first out -- a strikeout of Jonah Heim.

Second baseman Semien entered with an .861 OPS in 29 career at-bats vs. Valdez. He continued a strong 2023 against the left-hander (4-for-8, homer) with a single on the first pitch of two at-bats.

“It’s the same [game plan] every time: Get the ball up,” Semien said postgame on the FOX broadcast. “He throws so many pitches in that run off the play, run down, big curveball, changeup. He threw pitches where I wanted to swing, and I found some holes.”

Texas’ four runs were the most scored in a first inning in Rangers postseason history. It was also the first time in Houston’s postseason history that the Astros allowed three runs before recording an out.

Heim added a solo homer in the third inning -- Valdez exited shortly afterwards -- for his first postseason home run.

Teams taking a 2-0 lead in best-of-seven postseason series have gone on to win that series 75 of 89 times (84%). Only two teams have rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the past 26 years: the 2020 Dodgers in the NLCS, and the ‘04 Red Sox in the ALCS.

And the Rangers, so far this postseason, have shown they can turn leads into wins.