Corey Seager played a key role in widening the gap in the game with an RBI single for Texas, following his two-run error that initially gave Houston the lead. The Rangers secured a 7-2 victory over the Astros on Saturday night.
Seager was part of a string of five consecutive Rangers who got hits off Houston’s closer Ryan Pressly in the eighth inning, resulting in a four-run surge for the Rangers. Marcus Semien’s decisive single in the sixth inning broke the tie.
“Their determination was evident. They kept pushing and managed to secure the win,” said manager Bruce Bochy praising his team’s resilience. After losing all three games at Globe Life Field last season, the Rangers have now clinched victories against the Astros in back-to-back home games.
The Astros, reigning AL West champions, find themselves five games below .500 just nine games into the season, a position they haven’t been in since June 2016. However, first-year manager Joe Espada remains optimistic, emphasizing the team’s resilience and character.
Josh Sborz, one of six relievers for Texas, experienced discomfort in his right shoulder after throwing a pitch to José Abreu in the eighth inning. He left the game after consulting with an athletic trainer.
Jose Leclerc managed to finish off the inning with a strikeout but allowed hits to Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez in the ninth inning. Altuve extended his hitting streak to nine games. Adolis García contributed with a run-scoring single in the eighth inning, while rookie Wyatt Langford added an RBI double.
The Astros took a 2-1 lead in the third inning when Seager committed an error on a routine grounder, allowing two runs to score. Texas starter Jon Gray struggled with walks, creating a bases-loaded situation for the Astros, but Brock Burke limited the damage.
Evan Carter impressed with three hits for Texas, while Houston’s J.P. France took the loss, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
