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Astros' Luis Garcia Throws Harder Than Ever In Game 6 Vs. Red Sox

BOSTON (CBS) -- Game 2 was absolutely brutal for Astros rookie Luis Garcia. He gave up five runs, done in by a grand slam and three walks, and he recorded just three outs before leaving with what the team dubbed a knee injury.

Just six days later, the 24-year-old was a whole lot better.

In the first couple of innings, Garcia was hitting career highs in fastball velocity with regularity. ESPN's Jeff Passan noted that Garcia threw the four hardest pitches of his MLB career through the first two innings.

After Garcia recorded the first out in the top of the fourth inning, the Fox broadcast noted that Garcia had already thrown 21 fastballs of 96 mph or faster. He threw 17 such pitches in 155.1 innings during the regular season.

How such a thing is possible -- for a pitcher coming off an injury, no less -- is anyone's guess. But the rookie right-hander clearly had some extra oomph when taking the mound with a chance to atone for Saturday's brutal start.

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