|
 Collin McHugh (7-9) permitted two runs and struck out six over
seven innings to remain unbeaten over his last six starts before
Josh Fields pitched a scoreless eighth and Tony Sipp a perfect ninth
to earn his second save. Jose Altuve, Chris Carter and Dexter Fowler
each had a hit and scored a run as the Astros beat the Rangers for
the eighth time in nine meetings.
Leonys Martin and Robinson Chirinos each had two hits and scored a
run and Mike Carp had an RBI for last-place Texas, which dropped
four games behind Houston in the AL West. Roman Mendez (0-1) took
the loss in relief of Nick Tepesch after serving up Castro's slam.
 The Rangers collected three hits in the first inning but managed
only one run on Carp's double-play grounder before doubling the lead
on Carp's sacrifice fly in the third that plated Chirinos. McHugh
escaped further damage by fanning Adrian Beltre and Jim Adduci with
runners at second and third.
Houston went ahead in the fifth when Altuve singled with one out and
Carter walked, chasing Tepesch in favor of Mendez, who yielded an
infield single to Fowler before Castro, who entered in an 0-for-20
rut, cranked a 2-0 fastball 420 feet into the seats in right. Texas
appeared to get a run back on Rougned Odor's infield single in the
sixth but he was ruled out upon video review.
[to top of second column] |
GAME NOTEBOOK: Adduci came out of the game in the bottom of the fourth
after tumbling over Odor and banging his back and head on the ground
while catching an inning-ending foul ball. ... Astros LF Robbie Grossman
was held out of the starting lineup with an ailing left ankle that he
hurt in Wednesday's game. ... Rangers OF Alex Rios sat out his second
straight game due to soreness in his right thumb but is expected back in
the lineup Friday.
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