Altuve Homers Off Eovaldi In First 2 At-bats To Lead Astros Over Rangers 8-5

HOUSTON: Jose Altuve homered off Nathan Eovaldi in his first two at-bats and Cristian Javier pitched seven robust innings to guide the Houston Astros to an 8-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

After dropping the collection opener 12-8, the Astros have gained back-to-back video games following a 4-11 begin that left them seven video games below .500 for the primary time since 2016. They improved to 4-3 in opposition to AL West rival Texas this season.

Javier (2-0) allowed 5 hits and two runs with 5 strikeouts to present Houston a second straight stable pitching efficiency after dismal outings by its starters within the earlier three video games.

Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer off Seth Martinez with two outs within the ninth to chop the result in 8-5. Josh Hader struck out Corey Seager to finish it.

It was the eleventh profession multi-homer recreation for Altuve, and his seven profession house runs off Eovaldi are his most in opposition to any pitcher.

Altuve despatched Eovaldi’s third pitch off the foul pole in left discipline for his thirty sixth profession leadoff homer, which ranks third in franchise historical past.

There was one out within the third when Altuve linked once more, sending a fastball into the seats in left to make it 2-0. Eovaldi slumped his shoulders and shouted one thing because the ball sailed away. Altuve grinned as he rounded the bases and flexed each biceps as he reached the tip of the dugout.

Altuve additionally singled in his second consecutive recreation with three hits. He’s reached base safely in all 17 video games to begin the season.

Eovaldi (1-1) yielded eight hits and 5 runs in six innings.

Evan Carter hit a solo homer and Semien added an RBI double for the World Collection champion Rangers, who’ve dropped three of 4.

Carter obtained his workforce’s first hit along with his house run to right-center with one out within the fourth that minimize the result in 2-1.

Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña singled to begin the Houston fourth earlier than an RBI double by Victor Caratini made it 3-1. There have been two outs within the inning when a double by Mauricio Dubón scored two extra to increase the result in 5-1.

Leody Taveras doubled with one out within the fifth earlier than scoring on the double by Semien to get Texas to 5-2.

McCormick drove in two runs with a double in Houston’s three-run seventh that pushed the result in 8-2.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: Positioned LHP Cody Bradford on the 15-day injured listing, retroactive to Thursday, with a low again pressure. RHP Cole Winn was referred to as up from Triple-A Spherical Rock.

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (proper shoulder irritation) allowed seven hits and 6 runs — 5 earned — in 4 innings of a rehabilitation begin for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday evening. Houston supervisor Joe Espada mentioned the workforce will see how Verlander feels Monday earlier than deciding the following step for the three-time Cy Younger Award winner. … LHP Framber Valdez (left elbow irritation) mentioned he’s feeling significantly better and plans to begin enjoying catch Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Had not but introduced a beginning pitcher for the opener of a four-game collection Monday evening at Detroit.

Astros: RHP Spencer Arrighetti (0-1, 21.00 ERA) will make his second main league begin within the opener of a three-game interleague collection in opposition to the Atlanta Braves on Monday evening.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)