Corbin Martin might be the first player ever to pitch at Minute Maid Park in a high school game, a college game, a major-league spring training exhibition game and a major-league regular-season game. The Cypress Ranch High School and Texas A&M product checked off that last box in Sunday’s debut for the Astros, his hometown team. The 23-year-old right-hander seized his opportunity to take the struggling Collin McHugh’s place in the rotation, validating the team’s decision to turn to him earlier than expected. Martin showed why the Astros believe he will be a mainstay for years to come in his 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball against the Rangers. He retired 16 of the 20 batters he faced, nine via strikeout, before exiting to a standing ovation.<doc-sep>Corbin Martin struck out nine and allowed three hits through 5 1-3 innings in his major league debut before a hometown crowd Sunday, and the Astros backed up their new teammate with another double-digit offensive explosion in a 15-5 Mother’s Day shellacking of the Rangers at Minute Maid Park. Martin, the Cypress Ranch High School and Texas A&M former student who was called up to replace Collin McHugh in the starting rotation, turned in a solid 80-pitch performance with five swinging strikeouts and a sixth on a foul tip. ON TEXAS SPORTS NATION: How the Astros will manage second base in José Altuve's absence He topped out at 97.7 mph on the radar gun and punched out Rangers outfielder Danny Santana with a curveball on his final pitch in the sixth, doffing his cap as he exited to a standing ovation from a sellout crowd of 41,027 that included his mother and grandmother. While Martin was becoming the fourth Astros pitcher to strike out nine in his big league debut, the Astros’ offense contributed a five-hit day from George Springer, who homered twice and became the first player in franchise history with five hits and five runs in the same game. Alex Bregman also homered twice with five RBIs, and he, Carlos Correa and Tony Kemp had three hits each. It was the Astros’ second double-digit output in less than 24 hours and boosted the ledger in their first-ever home four-game sweep of the Rangers to 33-11. Houston had 10 home runs in the series. Martin had two strikeouts in the first and got Hunter Pence for the second out in the second inning before allowing his first hit, a double by third baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. Ronald Guzman flied out to the warning track in left field to end the inning. After allowing his first big league homer, a shot into the Crawford Boxes, by Rangers catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the third, Martin got Shin Soo-Choo on a fastball and Danny Santana on a changeup, both swinging, to end the third. He retired seven in a row through the fifth, with two more strikeouts, before a two-out double by Logan Forsythe. Forsythe went to third on a wild pitch with Kiner-Falefa at the plate, but the Rangers catcher took a called third strike on a 3-2 curveball to end the inning. Martin walked Choo to begin the sixth and struck out Santana before being replaced by McHugh, who allowed two runs, one of which was charged to Martin, and working his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Framber Valdez pitched a scoreless eighth, and Chris Devenski surrendered a two-run homer to Elvis Andrus in the ninth. The Astros’ 18-hit onslaught began with Springer’s 29th leadoff homer, his fifth of the season. From there, though, Houston built its lead with another barrage of two-out timely hitting after scoring 10 of 11 runs with two out Saturday. Tony Kemp tripled on one bounce to the center field wall in the second, and Springer followed with a line drive over Cabrera’s lead to left to make it 2-0. Bregman then plonked a slider by Rangers starter Adrian Sampson (0-3) off the façade above the Crawford Boxes for a 4-0 lead. The Astros added two more two-out runs in the fourth off Sampson and reliever Ariel Jurado. Kemp led off with an infield hit, Springer followed with a base hit and, two outs later with Jurado on, both scored when Correa’s base hit trickled under the glove of center fielder Santana for a two-base error. Four more two-out runs came in the fifth off Jurado. Yuli Gurriel reached on a throwing error by third baseman Cabrera, surviving a collision with Rangers first baseman Guzman, who leaped in futile pursuit of the throw. Gurriel took second on the overthrow and, two outs later, scored on Kemp’s third hit. Springer followed with his fourth hit, and Bregman’s third hit, a 421-foot shot off the façade in left center, made it 10-1. The Astros’ five-run sixth was capped by a two-run, 420-foot blast to left center by Springer plus RBI doubles by Gurriel and Aledmys Diaz. Visit HoustonChronicle.com for extended coverage from Astros vs Rangers THE DAILY PLAYBOOK: Sign up for the only newsletter for the Houston sports superfan.<doc-sep>As far as Mother's Day gifts go, it'll be difficult for Houston Astros pitcher Corbin Martin to top this year's. With both his mother and grandmother in the stands, the right-hander made his major-league debut Sunday in Houston against the Texas Rangers. It was an emotional day for all involved -- and that was before Martin even took the mound. "Nothing could beat this," his grandmother Barbara Gay, told MLB.com beat reporter Brian McTaggart as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Any game he's on the mound I'll be here. As long as I'm on this earth, I'll be here." EDWIN JACKSON HISTORY:Set to play for 14th organization ALBERT PUJOLS' MILESTONE BALL:Who is the 'rightful' owner? The Astros needed a starter to fill the rotation spot of Collin McHugh, who has been moved to the bullpen. Martin, 23, got the call after an impressive start at Class AAA Round Rock (Texas), where he posted a 1.48 ERA in five appearances and 24 1/3 innings. He kicked his MLB career off in fine fashion, allowing just two runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings and striking out nine over 79 pitches. Martin ended up getting the win as the Astros offense provided him with plenty of support in a 15-5 victory. The question for Martin now is how long he'll stay in Houston. "I can't wait to get his jersey and put it on," Gay said. "Hopefully, if he makes it and they keep him, we'll all get jerseys with his name and number." Hey, that's not a bad gift idea for next Mother's Day. Follow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner<doc-sep>
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 12: Corbin Martin #29 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on May 12, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) Astros’ rookie Corbin Martin couldn’t have given his mother and grandmother, who were in the stands, a better Mother’s Day gift than that spectacular debut. Martin made his Major League debut for the Houston Astros in Minute Maid Park, just a half-hour from where he played high school ball. With his family watching in the stadium, he did more than could have been expected of him. He got his first win surrendering two earned runs in 5.1 innings of work, striking out nine while walking just one batter. One of those runs was a solo shot from Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the third. But Martin kept his composure and struck out the next two batters to close out the inning. Martin was pulled in the 6th inning with one-on and one-out, after walking Shin-Soo Choo and then striking out Danny Santana. Following his congratulations of a job well done from A. J. Hinch, he walked off the mound with a resounding standing ovation as he headed to the dugout. He couldn’t help but crack a smile at that moment, a moment that he’ll never forget. Ironically, Collin McHugh, the starter Martin replaced, was the pitcher that came in to relieve him. He wasn’t able to hold the inherited runner, giving up two straight singles and then a fielder’s choice to Hunter Pence scoring Elvis Andrus for Martins second and last earned run of the night. McHugh would give up another run of his own before getting out of the inning. Chris Devenski would give up two more harmless runs in the ninth. The Astros certainly didn’t come up short in run support. They eclipsed their season high in hits and runs with 18 and 15, respectively. The offensive onslaught was highlighted by a career afternoon for George Springer who went 5-for-5, with five runs, four RBIs and two home runs. Alex Bregman also contributed two homers and five RBIs. Final score Astros 15 – Rangers 5. I’m sure Corbin Martin is walking on air right now and deservedly so. This could be the beginning of a special career, only time will tell. But for now, let Martin savor this special day.