ARLINGTON, Texas — When Mauricio Dubón noticed he was batting ninth for the Houston Astros within the opener of their pivotal sequence towards the Texas Rangers, he had a message for leadoff hitter Jose Altuve.
“I told him we were going to go back-to-back,” Dubón mentioned.
Altuve gave him a high-five, after which they went out and did simply that – twice.
Dubón and Altuve hit consecutive house runs within the sixth and ninth innings because the Astros beat the struggling Texas Rangers 13-6 on Monday.
Rookie catcher Yainer Diaz capped Houston’s large seventh with a three-run shot, and the Astros clinched the season sequence between Lone Star State rivals who’re locked in a decent division race with Seattle.
After being swept over the weekend at house by the New York Yankees, the win acquired the Astros (78-61) inside a share level of the Mariners (77-60) for first place within the AL West. Texas (76-61) is in third, however solely a recreation behind even after its thirteenth loss in 17 video games.
PHOTOS: Dubón and Altuve go back-to-back twice, Astros hit 5 homers in 13-6 win over Rangers
“Obviously, we needed a game like this,” mentioned Altuve, who had 4 hits.
“That was a great win against a great ballclub. Obviously, both of us were fighting for playoff positioning and to make the playoffs,” mentioned Alex Bregman, whose 4 hits included a two-run single in a three-run fifth after a replay problem worn out the again finish of a double play. “It was a good way to start the series.”
The Astros went forward to stick with a six-run seventh. They loaded the bases on a stroll and two singles off reliever Josh Sborz (5-7) earlier than José Abreu walked to pressure within the run that made it 6-5. All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who homered twice for Texas, then misplayed a grounder for an error that allowed two extra runs to attain earlier than Diaz hit his twenty first homer.
“This guy’s been so good out there. I couldn’t tell you the last time he’s made an error,” Texas supervisor Bruce Bochy mentioned. “It happens. … But this guy has played unbelievable baseball. So that wasn’t the game.”
There had been 9 house runs in all, a single-game report at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020.
Houston turned the primary staff in main league historical past to have its No. 9 and leadoff batters hit back-to-back homers twice in the identical recreation, in response to OptaSTATS. Dubón batted ninth for under the third time this season, with Altuve on the high of the order as standard.
“Ended up doing it twice, so it was pretty crazy,” Dubón mentioned.
Josh Smith homered within the Texas ninth off Ryne Stanek, who later within the inning injured his proper foot whereas overlaying first base. Stanek remained on the bottom after he fell again arduous and his foot turned awkwardly. The right-hander was taken off the sector on a motorized cart.
Astros supervisor Dusty Baker mentioned Stanek was nonetheless being evaluated.
“I did see the still (photo) afterwards. Boy, that looked ugly,” Baker mentioned. “I’m just hoping nothing is broken and nothing is structurally wrong. We have to see, because he could be out a while.”
Rafael Montero (3-3), the second of six Houston pitchers, labored an ideal sixth.
After Dubón and Altuve first went deep within the sixth off reliever Glenn Otto, the Astros led 5-4. Dubón homered on the following pitch after Diaz struck out and Chas McCormick was caught stealing for a double play. Texas acquired even when Mitch Garver hit rookie starter J.P. France’s first pitch within the backside of inning 451 ft into the second deck of seats above the guests’ bullpen in left-center.
Seattle misplaced 6-3 at Cincinnati a couple of minutes earlier than the Astros wrapped up the opener of their ultimate three-game sequence this season towards Texas. The solely video games both staff has left towards the Mariners are within the final 10 days of the common season, seven for Texas and three for Houston.
LONG BALLS
Garver’s sixteenth homer got here a day after he went deep twice in a four-hit recreation towards Minnesota. … Seager has 28 homers total, and his 13 for the reason that starting of August are probably the most within the majors throughout that stretch. He is the AL chief with a .345 batting common. … Houston has hit back-to-back homers 15 instances this season. Altuve has 12 house runs, and Dubón 9.
SHORT HOPS
At 4-13 over their final 17 video games, the Rangers matched Colorado for the worst report within the majors since Aug. 16. The Rockies′ 50 wins total are the fewest within the National League. … The Labor Day vacation crowd of 39,181 was the fifteenth sellout for the Rangers this season. At instances, it had the texture of a playoff environment, with loads of Astros followers within the constructing. “You could tell the amount of support we had. It sounded like it was 50-50,” Baker mentioned.
UP NEXT
Texas plans to reinstate All-Star RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-3) from the injured record Tuesday to make his first begin since July 18. He has been out with a proper forearm pressure, and can return with out occurring a rehab task.
“We’ll keep a close eye on him, trust me,” Bochy mentioned.
Astros LHP Framber Valdez (10-9, 3.38 ERA) threw a no-hitter towards Cleveland on Aug. 1, six days after he allowed six runs over 3 2/3 innings in a loss the final time he confronted the Rangers.
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