Marcus Semien started the game with a home run, and Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted the Texas Rangers to a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday.
The Rangers broke a two-game losing streak and ended the Astros’ 10-game home winning streak.
A groundout by Adolis García moved Josh Smith to third base with two outs in the 10th inning. Lowe then hit a single to left field off Tayler Scott (6-3), allowing Smith to score and give the Rangers the lead.
Texas had chances to score earlier, loading the bases in both the seventh and eighth innings, but they struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1 for 10 on the day.
“It was one of those days where we didn’t execute until the very end,” Lowe said.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Rangers intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez with two outs before Kirby Yates struck out Yainer Diaz to secure his 15th save.
“Both teams had to make crucial plays with the game on the line,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “It was an intense game.”
The Astros had a chance to win in the ninth inning when Joey Loperfido singled with two outs, but David Robertson (3-3) retired Mauricio Dubón on a groundout to end the threat. Houston challenged the call, but it stood, leading to extra innings.
Dubón was ejected for arguing the call, marking the first ejection of his career.
“We fought hard until the end,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We just couldn’t get the big hit.”
Semien got things going for the Rangers with a leadoff home run in the first inning, his fifth leadoff homer of the season. The Astros responded in the bottom of the inning with consecutive singles by Alex Bregman and Alvarez, followed by Diaz’s single that scored Bregman to tie the game at 1-1.
