Jonah Heim hit a home run and brought in four runs as the Texas Rangers defeated the Houston Astros 12-8 on Friday night, pushing the Astros’ record down to seven games below .500 for the first time in eight years.
Evan Carter contributed with three hits as the Rangers established a commanding 12-3 lead by the sixth inning.
Houston’s record now stands at 4-11, marking their lowest point in eight years. The last time they were this far below .500 was in 2016, when they were 22-29 before turning things around with a Memorial Day win.
Houston’s manager, Joe Espada, remains optimistic, believing that the team is better than their current performance suggests and that they will soon find their stride.
The Rangers, reigning champions from last year’s AL Championship Series, bounced back after a tough game on Thursday where they were shut out by Oakland, managing just one hit.
Taking advantage of J.P. France’s struggles on the mound, the Rangers secured eight hits and eight runs in just four innings, with Heim’s three-run homer in the third inning being a significant highlight.
Manager Bruce Bochy praised his team’s performance, highlighting their disciplined at-bats and timely hits throughout the game.
Despite Kyle Tucker’s impressive two home runs and three RBIs for the Astros, their pitching staff struggled for the third consecutive game, allowing the Rangers to build a significant lead.
Rangers’ starter Dane Dunning pitched effectively, giving up five hits and three runs in five innings to secure the win.
An altercation arose when Yordan Alvarez was hit by pitches twice during the game. The Astros rallied in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to close the gap to 12-8, but they were unable to mount a complete comeback.
The Rangers took control early, with key hits from Josh Smith and Wyatt Langford contributing to their lead before Heim’s homer extended their advantage. Additional runs in the fourth and sixth innings secured the Rangers’ victory.
