WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Houston Astros pitcher Luis Garcia was scratched from a batting practice session Thursday because of right elbow soreness, another setback in his attempt to return from Tommy John surgery in May 2023.
Garcia will be evaluated by team doctors, according to manager Joe Espada.
A right-hander who turned 28 in December, Garcia made a pair of minor league starts last year, throwing 12 pitches in a perfect inning for the Florida Complex League Astros on June 28, then throwing 31 pitches while allowing a pair of two-run homers during 1 1/3 innings for Double-A Corpus Christi on July 4.
He reached 94 mph but the Astros then ended his rehab assignment. While Garcia threw bullpens and batting practice he did not resume rehab appearances.
Eligible for arbitration, Garcia agreed in January to a one-year contract for $1,875,000 that matched his 2024 salary.
Houston hoped he would pitch for the Astros by May and provide starting pitching depth along with Lance McCullers Jr., who is returning from elbow surgery in June 2023. The Astros expect McCullers will pitch for them by late April.
Garcia moved from Class A to the majors in 2020 and is 28-19 with a 3.61 ERA in 63 starts and six relief appearances from 2020-23. He pitched for Venezuela in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
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FILE - Houston Astros pitcher Luis Garcia takes part in a drill during a spring training baseball practice Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Darrion Williams could barely make a shot for the first 30 minutes. He didn't miss when it mattered most, sending Texas Tech to an improbable spot in the Elite Eight.
Williams scored the go-ahead basket with 7.3 seconds left in overtime after tying the game with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation to lead Texas Tech to an 85-83 win over Arkansas on Thursday night.
“The heart of the team is Darrion Williams,” coach Grant McCasland said. “He just is a resilient guy. I can’t even explain it. I put faith in him because I do believe that he’ll find a way in one-game scenarios to do whatever it takes to win. I honestly do. Whatever it takes.”
The first overtime game of March Madness came thanks to a furious comeback by the third-seeded Red Raiders (28-8) from 13 points down with less than 5 minutes left against coach John Calipari's 10th-seeded Razorbacks (22-14).
Texas Tech advanced to play top-seeded Florida in the West Region final on Saturday with a chance at the school's second Final Four trip after losing the title game to Virginia in 2019.
That idea seemed far-fetched for most of this game as Arkansas broke out to a double-digit lead early and was in control most of the way, leading by as many as 16 points in the second half.
“In the huddle, Coach said we’re going to find a way to win this no matter how much we’re down,” guard Christian Anderson said. “As a team we had that look, we’re not losing this game no matter what. ... We had to find a way to make it happen. And at the end we did, so that was it.”
Williams helped will the Red Raiders down the stretch after opening the game by missing 13 of his 15 shots in front of a large contingent of his friends and family that came from Sacramento for the game.
But the Red Raiders closed regulation with a 16-3 run behind three 3-pointers from Anderson and three baskets from Williams. The biggest came when he rattled in a 3 with 9.7 seconds left after Jonas Aidoo had missed the front end of a one-and-one.
Williams had missed eight of his first nine attempts from 3 before that make.
"Obviously they weren’t going in, but I was shooting open ones", Williams said. “They’ll fall.”
JT Toppin then scored to start overtime and give Texas Tech its first lead since the opening minutes and it went back and forth from there, with D.J. Wagner tying it for Arkansas with 34 seconds left.
Williams then scored down low to give Texas Tech the lead and Wagner's last shot hit the front rim, sending the Red Raiders into a wild celebration at midcourt as Williams pointed to the crowd.
Calipari could only walk off the court with pursed lips and a sigh as his first season at Arkansas ended in heartbreak after he fell just short of being the first coach to take four schools to the Elite Eight.
“We’re all disappointed here,” Calipari said. “But I told them, there’s nothing them individually or my team could do to disappoint me because of what they’ve done this year. I’m so proud of them.”
Anderson scored 22 points to lead Texas Tech, while Toppin and Williams added 20 apiece.
Johnell Davis scored 30 points for the Razorbacks and Karter Knox added 20.
The Red Raiders were missing a key player once again with top outside shooter Chance McMillian missing his fourth straight game with an oblique injury. McMillian, who grew up in San Francisco, had been hoping to play in his homecoming game but was ruled out before tipoff.
Arkansas got forward Adou Thiero back for the first time since he injured his left knee on Feb. 22. Thiero played five minutes.
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Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams (5) celebrates after scoring during overtime in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Arkansas, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Texas Tech guard Elijah Hawkins (3) celebrates after winning in overtime in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Arkansas, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Arkansas head coach John Calipari leaves the court after the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Texas Tech, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arkansas guard D.J. Wagner (21) reacts after the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Texas Tech, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams (5) shoots during overtime in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Arkansas, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile (4) dunks during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Texas Tech, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Arkansas forward Zvonimir Ivisic (44) and forward Jonas Aidoo (9) defend against Texas Tech guard Kevin Overton, right, during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams (5), Arkansas forward Zvonimir Ivisic (44) and guard Boogie Fland (2) reach for a rebound during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Arkansas head coach John Calipari reacts from the sideline during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Texas Tech, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Arkansas guard Johnell Davis (1) shoots during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Texas Tech, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Texas Tech guard Kevin Overton (1) and guard Elijah Hawkins (3) defend against Arkansas guard Johnell Davis (1) during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson (4) celebrates after winning in overtime in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Arkansas, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland celebrates after winning in overtime in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament game against Arkansas, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile (4) blocks a shot by Texas Tech forward JT Toppin (15) during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Texas Tech forward Darrion Williams (5) shoots against Arkansas forward Zvonimir Ivisic (44) during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
