Rangers fall to Houston Astros on Friday – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer, Hunter Brown struck out five batters in six innings and the Houston Astros won their 10th straight home game with a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Alex Bregman and Jake Meyers also hit home runs, and Josh Hader converted his 18th straight save chance. The Astros are the best in the major leagues at 25-11 since June 1 and earned their 50th win of the year.

Maintaining a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning, Altuve crushed a 1-1 changeup from Texas reliever José Ureña 365 feet into the left-field seats to make it 6-2.

Houston’s defense kept the score perfect in the top of the inning for Brown. With two players on base in the first, Chas McCormick ended the inning with a diving catch in right field. The Astros then turned two inning-ending double plays in the second and third innings.

Brown (7-6) held the Rangers to two runs on five hits, allowed two walks and struck out five for his sixth win in his last seven starts.

Hader struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Texas starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (3-10) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, walked two and struck out five in five innings. It was Heaney’s fourth loss in his last seven starts.

Corey Seager hit a two-run home run, his 18th of the season, and went 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Marcus Semien went 3 for 3 for top-ranked Texas.

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Rangers: Starting right pitcher Tyler Mahle (right ACL surgery) will pitch three innings in his third rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League… Starting right pitcher Dane Dunning (right shoulder tightness) threw live batting practice in Anaheim on Wednesday.

Astros: Designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez returned to the lineup Friday after missing Thursday’s game with hip tightness… Right-handed starting pitcher Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery) did not throw his scheduled bullpen game Friday. Garcia is pitching on the flat ground, and Astros manager Joe Espada doesn’t consider that a setback in his rehab process… Outfielder Kyle Tucker (right shin bruise) played catch for the second straight day Friday.

FOLLOWING

Houston right-handed pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (4-7, 5.96 ERA) faces Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (6-3, 3.10 ERA) when the series continues Saturday afternoon.