Convenience Big Store: In sterling pitching duel, Astros' Hunter Brown shows he's ace material

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Today's starting lineup

If pitching is your thing, Thursday was a treat. The Astros' Hunter Brown, a budding young ace, and the Rangers' Jacob deGrom, one of baseball's top established arms, dueled resolutely in Arlington. The Astros lost thanks to an utter lack of offense, but Brown showed his continued growth as he battled with a veteran ace.

Please scroll down for the rest of this morning's headlines.

Greg Rajan, Senior Editor

greg.rajan@houstonchronicle.com

Astros / MLB

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown reaches to a pitch during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Photo by: LM Otero, Associated Press

Growth spurt

Aside from one hiccup in a hard-luck loss, Hunter Brown showed Thursday he was worthy of the ace label as he dueled resolutely with Rangers star Jacob deGrom in a taut series opener.

Rangers 1, Astros 0: An elite starting pitching matchup lived up to its billing, but the Astros' offense provided zero run support against the Rangers. Read More
Mailbag: Astros beat reporter Matt Kawahara answers readers' questions about Lance McCullers Jr and Framber Valdez's futures with the team, and other topics. Read More
Seeking lefty stick: While it's not a pressing matter, Astros GM Dana Brown is still exploring ideas to add a left-handed bat to a lineup that's mostly filled with righties. Read More
Injury updates: Yordan Alvarez could be days away from returning to the Astros' lineup but the situation is less clear with pitcher Hayden Wesneski. Read More
Trade made: Miguel Castro was traded to the White Sox after the veteran reliever spent the season at Triple-A Sugar Land after not making the Astros' roster out of spring training. Read More
How to watch: For the second time this season, Astros fans will have to deal with a streaming exclusive. . Here's how to watch tonight's game against the Rangers. Read More
Altuve a Royal? It was an idea: Jose Altuve is an Astros icon, but former Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow once proposed trading him to Kansas City, says ex-Royals GM Dayton Moore. Read More
Kemp calls it a career: Infielder Tony Kemp, a former Astros fan favorite who was part of the 2017 World Series championship team, announces his retirement. Read More

College Baseball

Texas outfielder Max Belyeu, shown against LSU earlier in the season, returned to action on Thursday and hit a three-run homer to lead Texas over Oklahoma.

Photo by: David Buono, Icon Sportswire Via Getty Images

League of their own

Texas beats Oklahoma on Max Belyeu's three-run homer in the ninth to clinch an SEC baseball regular-season title in the Longhorns's first season in the league.

Texas Longhorns head coach Stephen Sarkisian is seen before a first round college football playoff game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Austin.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Sark says

Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian discusses the change at quarterback from Quinn Ewers to Arch Manning and getting ready for the upcoming season.

Alexa Massari, UH diver who was featured in Sports Illustrated last season, is photographed on Friday, May 9, 2025 in Houston.

Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Staff Photographer

Life-changing shoot

One year after appearing in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, UH diver Alexa Massari is chasing a new career outside the pool.

College Softball

ATHENS, GA - MAY 09: Texas A&M starting pitcher/relief pitcher Emiley Kennedy (11) and Texas A&M infielder Mac Barbara (31) hug after winning the SEC Softball Championship Semifinals game between Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies on May 9, 2025, at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Photo by: Icon Sportswire, Icon Sportswire Via Getty Images

Still something to prove

Texas A&M hosts an NCAA regional and the Aggies are ready to prove doubters wrong about their seed and ranking.

Jhonattan Vegas, of Venezuela, waves after making a putt on the seventh hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C.

Photo by: George Walker IV, AP

What happens with Vegas

The PGA Championship has the strongest field of the majors. It was just hard to find them at Quail Hollow. Jhonattan Vegas birdied five of his last six holes for a 64 and a two-shot lead.