The Houston Astros repeated a maneuver they pulled off against the Texas Rangers' Joey Gallo on Opening Day.
The left-handed slugger has a reputation for pulling the ball, and opposing teams shift on defense accordingly. The Astros, however, utilize this defensive shift to the extreme, probably because Houston relies heavily on mathematics. The Astros' analytics department deems this defensive formation to be so, which means unorthodox alignments.
The Astros positioned all but one of their seven fielders well to the right of second base. All by himself on the left side was left fielder Marwin Gonzalez. Look at all that space on the left side of the field. Just look at it!
Joey Gallo grounded out to the Houston Astros Right Side Monster. pic.twitter.com/x8u3heRUtj
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) May 12, 2018
Undeterred by the wild defensive arrangement, and not romanced by all that open green space in left field, Gallo went right after the teeth of Astros' defense. That didn't work. He grounded out to short right field.
Gallo went 0-for-3, but that mattered little in the long run. Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels combined with three relievers to one-hit the mighty Astros lineup in a 1-0 win. That spoiled yet another splendid start for Justin Verlander, who pitched six innings and struck out seven, but allowed one run, which ultimately doomed Houston to defeat.
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May 11: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cole Hamels delivers a pitch during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Hamels and three other pitchers combined to one-hit the Astros in a 1-0 win.
Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports
May 10: Former Dodgers starting pitcher Fernando Valenzuela waves to the Dodger Stadium crowd before throwing the ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers-Reds game.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports
May 9: Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius avoids Red Sox baserunner Rafael Devers to turns the double play during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports
May 8: Seattle Mariners pitcher James Paxton is dunked with a sports drink after throwing a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. M
Nick Turchiaro, USA TODAY Sports
May 7: George Springer (4) high fives teammates Max Stassi (12) and Josh Reddick after batting them in with a three-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the second inning at Oakland Coliseum. Springer had a team-record six hits as the Astros won, 16-2.
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
May 6: Yankees rookie Gleyber Torres is doused with Gatorade by his teammates after hitting a walk-off three-run home run to beat the Indians at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Wendell Cruz, USA TODAY Sports
May 5: Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel became the quickest to 300 career saves by closing out Texas Rangers.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports
May 4: Albert Pujols tips his hat to the crowd after recording his 3000th career hit against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning at Safeco Field.
Jennifer Buchanan, USA TODAY Sports
May 3: Blue Jays baserunner Yangervis Solarte tries to slide into third base in the third inning against the Indians at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
David Richard, USA TODAY Sports
May 2: Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter fields a ball against the White Sox.
Joe Puetz, USA TODAY Sports
May 2: Marlins starting pitcher Jose Urena spits water into the air prior to taking the mound against the Phillies at Marlins Park in Miami.
Jasen Vinlove, USA TODAY Sports
May 1: The Washington Nationals' Wilmer Difo gestures in the dugout after hitting a home run in a 12-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park.
Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports
April 30: Twins baserunner Joe Mauer, right, scores past the tag of Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin, left, during their game at Target Field in Minneapolis.
Jordan Johnson, USA TODAY Sports
April 29: Miami Marlins catcher Bryan Holaday (28) scores a run against Colorado Rockies catcher Tony Wolters (14) during the eighth inning at Marlins Park.
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports
Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval came in to pitch the ninth inning against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Lance Iversen, USA TODAY Sports
April 27: Cleveland Browns first-round draft picks Denzel Ward, left, and Baker Mayfield, right, throw out the ceremonial first pitches before the Indians' home game against the Mariners at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Scott R. Galvin, USA TODAY Sports
April 26: White Sox third baseman Yolmer Sanchez warms up before a game against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium while wearing a shirt in tribute to teammate Danny Farquhar, who suffered a brain hemorrhage in the team's dugout on April 20.
Peter G. Aiken, USA TODAY Sports
April 25: Washington Nationals outfielder Howie Kendrick (12) celebrates with outfielder Andrew Stevenson (45) after scoring a run against the San Francisco Giants in the eighth inning at AT&T Park
Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
April 24: A Yankees security guard takes down a fan who ran onto the field during the seventh inning during the Yankees' game against Twins at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports
April 23: Dogs walk on the field during Dog Day at Guaranteed Rate Field before a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners. The White Sox won the game, 10-4.
David Banks, USA TODAY Sports
April 22: Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Jonathan Villar passes time in the dugout during a 4-2 win over the Miami Marlins at Miller Park. With the win, the Brewers completed a four-game sweep of the Marlins.
Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports
April 21: Athletics pitcher Sean Manaea is dunked with Double Bubble by a teammate after Manaea's no-hitter against the Red Sox.
Kiel Maddox, USA TODAY Sports
April 19: The Phillies' Nick Williams, left, and J.P. Crawford celebrate in 1970's throwback jerseys during their game against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports
April 17: Reds batter Devin Mesoraco avoids a pitch during the fourth inning against the Brewers at Miller Park in Milwaukee.
Jeff Hanisch, USA TODAY Sports
April 16: Bryce Harper breaks his bat while hitting a solo home run in the first inning of an 8-6 win over the New York Mets.
Kathy Willens, AP
April 15: Miami Marlins players celebrate Jackie Robinson day by wearing No. 42 on their jerseys.
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports
April 14: Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Brandon Morrow (15) and catcher Willson Contreras (40) celebrate after beating the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field.
Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports
April 13: Braves batter Ryan Flaherty reacts after striking out against the Cubs during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Jim Young, USA TODAY Sports
April 12: Pirates relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez (73) and catcher Francisco Cervelli (29) celebrate their team's win against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Young-USA TODAY Sports
Jim Young, USA TODAY Sports
April 11: The New York Yankees' Tyler Austin starts a scrum with Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. The Yankees won the game, 10-7.
Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports
April 10: Bryce Harper rounds third to score in the first inning against the Braves.
Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports
April 9: Rockies starter Jon Gray delivers against the Padres at Coors Field.
Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports
April 8: Shohei Ohtani receives a standing ovation from Los Angeles Angels fans after pitching seven shutout -- including 6 1/3 perfect -- innings against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Angels won the game, 6-1.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
April 7: Red Sox slugger Xander Bogaerts watches his grand slam leave the yard second inning against the Rays in Boston.
Brian Fluharty, USA TODAY Sports
April 6: Who is that masked man? It's Indians left fielder Michael Brantley preparing for Cleveland's home opener against the Royals at Progressive Field.
Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports
April 5: St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Yairo Munoz (34) reacts after umpire Mike Muchlinski (76) called a strike during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium.
Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports
April 4: Los Angeles Angels second baseman Zack Cozart (7) gets doused after hitting a walk-off home run in the 13th inning against the Cleveland Indians.
Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports
April 3: Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians in his first ever regular season at bat at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
April 2: Cleveland Indians designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion rounds third base on an inside-the-park home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. The Indians won the game, 6-0.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
April 1: The Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani makes his major-league debut as a starting pitcher in a 7-4 win over the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Ohtani pitched six innings, gave up three runs, struck out six and got the win.
Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
March 31: Seattle Mariners center fielder Dee Gordon (9) watches a home run off the bat of the Cleveland Indians' Yan Gomes go over the wall during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. The Indians won the game, 6-5.
Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports
March 30: The Miami Marlins' Brian Anderson scores the game-winning run the 17th inning of a 2-1 win against the Chicago Cubs at Marlins Park.
Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports
March 29: Giancarlo Stanton (right) celebrates a two-run home run in the first inning with New York Yankees left fielder Brett Gardner. Stanton hit two home runs in his Yankees debut, and New York beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-1, on Opening Day at Rogers Centre.
Nick Turchiaro, USA TODAY Sports
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