Martinez heads historic night for Astros' bullpen

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers scored five runs in the first inning Monday night before Astros starter Blair Henley -- plucked from Triple-A Sugar Land’s rotation and asked to make his Major League debut against the defending World Series champions in his hometown -- had even recorded the first out of his career.

Astros manager Joe Espada patted Henley on the chest and took the ball from him after his rocky 39-pitch start and told him his teammates had his back.

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“I told him when I went to the mound to keep his head up and we were going to win this game for him,” Espada said.

Four Astros relief pitchers combined to throw 8 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit apiece, as Houston overcame the Rangers’ five-run first by scoring eight unanswered runs to beat Texas, 10-5, and split the series at Globe Life Field. Houston has won consecutive games for the first time this season.

“Phenomenal job,” Espada said. “That was a team win. We needed those guys to step up, and they did big-time.”

The 8 2/3 scoreless innings were the most by Astros relievers in a game since Sept. 5, 1998, in Arizona, when Houston’s bullpen threw nine innings in a 12-inning win. It was also the most scoreless innings by an Astros bullpen in a nine-inning game since July 18, 1974, at Philadelphia.

The Astros’ bullpen, which entered the night with a 6.89 ERA that was the third-worst in the Major Leagues, held Rangers’ hitters to a 4-for-29 clip with four singles, one walk and five strikeouts.

“That was huge for the bullpen,” reliever Seth Martinez said. “We all know we can do that. We all know what we’re capable of, so I don’t think it was any surprise. At the same time it was huge for us and the team fed off that. I think we’re going to have some good energy going into these next couple of series.”

Martinez followed Henley and threw 3 2/3 innings to get the win, needing only 32 pitches to record 11 outs. He came into the game with the bases loaded and got Marcus Semien -- batting for the second time in the first inning -- to hit into a double play. He allowed a leadoff single in the second and then sent down his final nine batters.

Tayler Scott and Brandon Bielak each threw two innings, and Bryan Abreu finished it off in the ninth inning. None of the relievers threw more than 32 pitches.

“It’s definitely the mindset to just attack and let the ball do what it wants,” Martinez said. “It was good that it all kind of went together. We were in and out of innings pretty quick and that really helps. The whole goal today was get inning by inning. We knew it was going to be a bullpen day after that first inning and it was awesome to see a lot of bullpen guys step up right there.”

The Astros scored two in the first before the Rangers tagged Henley for five runs in the bottom of the inning. He faced nine hitters and walked three, hit one, gave up four singles and got one out. Henley said he was optioned back to Triple-A following the game.

“All the guys, they felt for me a little bit,” Henley said. “Seth came and did his job and I congratulated him. I wanted to do my part rooting for him because that was the most I could do at the time. The locker room is incredible, the coaches are incredible and the staff is awesome. They felt for me and they told me I’ll get my opportunity.”

Yordan Alvarez hit a 431-foot two-run homer in the second to cut the lead to one and added a tying RBI double in the fourth before Kyle Tucker put the Astros ahead for good with a two-run single one batter later. Catcher Victor Caratini slugged a three-run homer in the fifth but did his best work by guiding the bullpen through an extended game.

“We just tried to attack the zone, attack the hitters as best as possible and after that, when we tied the game and took the lead, my biggest goal was for all the pitchers that come in to throw the least amount of pitches as possible so they’re available for tomorrow,” Caratini said.