Home runs propel surging Astros past Rangers

Field Level Media|published: Fri 12th July, 23:02 2024

Jul 12, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) celebrates shortstop Corey Seager (5) two run home run against the Houston Astros in the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Meyers and Alex Bregman slugged solo home runs and Jose Altuve clubbed a three-run shot as the Houston Astros extended their home winning streak to 10 games by defeating the visiting Texas Rangers 6-3 on Friday.

It's the Astros' second-longest streak at Minute Maid Park, who won 18 consecutive straight in 2004. Houston has won 17 of its last 21 games and improved to 25-11 since June 1.

The Astros relied on their power stroke after scratching across a run off Rangers starter Andrew Heaney (3-10) with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.

Mauricio Dubon, who reached on an error by Rangers shortstop Corey Seager to start the inning, turned heads-up baserunning into a 1-0 lead. On Yordan Alvarez's infield single to short, Dubon kept going when Seager double-clutched on the throw to first.

Meyers followed an inning later with his ninth homer, a 382-foot blast to left-center field. With one out in the fifth, Bregman took Heaney deep to left field, slugging his 12th home run for a 3-0 advantage.

Heaney allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

Seager atoned for his miscue in the top of the sixth. He followed a leadoff single from Marcus Semien with his 18th home run on the season, lofting a changeup from Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (7-6) the opposite way down the left-field line.

After the homer, Brown, who allowed three of his five hits to Semien, gave up a single and hit a batter, but he escaped the sixth with the lead intact by striking out Nathaniel Lowe.

Brown allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six innings. It marked his 10th consecutive start with at least six innings pitched.

Altuve helped the Astros reclaim their cushion by continuing his mastery against Rangers right-hander Jose Urena. Altuve smashed his 14th homer with two outs in the sixth, driving home Dubon and Chas McCormick with his sixth extra-base hit in seven at-bats against Urena.

Seager added an RBI single in the seventh off Astros reliever Bryan Abreu. But Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader retired the Rangers in order in the eighth and ninth, respectively, with Hader notching his 18th save.

--Field Level Media