Chris Davis was in the box representing the potential tying run, unsure whether he'd face a 21-year-old trying to finish a complete game or right-hander Luke Gregerson, who was warming up in the Houston bullpen.
"'Davis is your guy,'" Hinch said he told McCullers. "'This is your game, this is your guy, get him right here.'
"I wanted him to shake hands after that at-bat," Hinch said of the mound visit. "He looked me dead in the eye and said, 'I'm good to go.'"
McCullers needed just four pitches to finish the Astros' win, punching out Davis on a 12-6 curveball for his career-high 11th strikeout and first complete game since a seven-inning job in high school.