Astros 6, Rangers 5 (10): Jason Castro tripled and Jose Altuve plated him moments later with a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning as visiting Houston ended a 12-game losing streak to Texas.
After Michael Choice tied it in the ninth on a pinch-hit solo shot into the Rangers’ bullpen in right-center off Kevin Chapman (1-0), the Astros quickly retook the lead in the next inning when Castro ripped a line drive to right off Joakim Soria (1-1). Three pitches later, Altuve drove in pinch runner Marwin Gonzalez with a deep fly to right.
Anthony Bass gave up a leadoff single to Elvis Andrus and intentionally walked Prince Fielder in the bottom half, but was able to notch his second save when he rebounded by striking out Kevin Kouzmanoff and forcing Choice to ground out to first. Robbie Grossman hit a three-run home run and joined Altuve with two hits for the Astros, who defeated Texas for only the eighth time in the last 45 meetings.
Kouzmanoff, who scored the only run of the game in Texas’ 12-inning series-opening win on Friday, sparked the Rangers’ offense in the opening frame with a run-scoring single and J.P. Arencibia made it 2-0 in the second an RBI groundout. Houston broke its scoreless drought in the fourth when three straight batters were able to reach before Carlos Corporan plated Castro with a sacrifice fly.
Matt Dominguez drove home Altuve with a single to center two pitches later and Grossman belted a 1-1 curveball into the right-field stands for his second homer in three games. The Rangers got a run back on a double-play grounder in the bottom half, added another on Alex Rios’ RBI double in the eighth and evened it on Choice’s first career home run in the ninth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Houston starter Jarred Cosart allowed three runs on six hits and struck out a career-high eight over seven innings, while Texas starter Tanner Scheppers gave up five runs and four hits in seven innings. … Texas fell just short in its attempt to tie the franchise record for consecutive wins against an opponent. … The Rangers acquired RH Hector Noesi from the Seattle Mariners earlier Saturday in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations.
Houston | Texas | |
Jarred Cosart | Player | Tanner Scheppers |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
7.0 | IP | 7.0 |
8 | Strikeouts | 6 |
6 | Hits | 4 |
3.86 | ERA | 6.43 |
Houston | Texas | |
Robbie Grossman | Player | Elvis Andrus |
2 | Hits | 2 |
3 | RBI | 0 |
1 | HR | 0 |
6 | TB | 2 |
.500 | Avg | .667 |