HOUSTON — Marcus Semien hit a grand slam to cap a six-run seventh inning because the Texas Rangers beat the Astros 9-1 on Sunday night time for his or her first sequence win at Houston in practically 5 years.

The Rangers, who took two of three from the World Series champions, final received a sequence in Houston in July 2018 when Texas swept the Astros. Since that sequence, Texas had misplaced 10 straight sequence in Houston.

“This is a division series,” Semien mentioned. “All of them count whether it’s the best team or the worst. All of them count in the division, and our goal is to win the division, so we need these games.”

Nathaniel Lowe doubled to steer off the seventh, tying his profession excessive with an 11-game hitting streak. After an error by shortstop Jeremy Peña allowed Adolis García to achieve, Josh Jung singled and Jonah Heim drew a bases-loaded stroll to attain Lowe.

Robbie Grossman adopted with an RBI single to chase Astros starter Framber Valdez (1-2). Héctor Neris retired the following two batters earlier than Semien’s grand slam to left area on an 0-2 pitch.

“I was definitely down in the hole,” Semien mentioned. “I think it took me swinging and missing on the splitter to get a sense of where I really needed to start. … I got it exactly where I needed to get it, and of course this ballpark, short porch, so that was a bonus.”

PHOTOS: Semien's grand slam caps 6-run seventh, Rangers beat Astros 9-1

Texas supervisor Bruce Bochy mentioned the inning confirmed what the Rangers might do after they benefit from a state of affairs.

“Lowe started that inning, and we had some good at-bats,” Bochy mentioned. “The whole order did something to put up that big number. Marcus topped it off. That’s what you’re hoping: Keep it close, then something like that happens where you break it open, and it couldn’t have worked out better for us.”

Heim added a sacrifice fly within the eighth, and Leody Taveras hit a two-run double.

Andrew Heaney permitted two hits over 5 shutout innings for Texas. He struck out 4 and walked three.

The Astros threatened within the seventh as Brock Burke (1-0) walked the bases loaded. Jonathan Hernández struck out the following two hitters however walked Alex Bregman to drive in Peña, who doubled to start out the inning. Will Smith induced a groundout from Yordan Alvarez to finish the inning.

Houston supervisor Dusty Baker known as the loss disappointing.

“They scored seven unearned runs,” Baker mentioned. “We didn’t play very well. We made some mistakes in the field. We made some mistakes on the bases. We had some opportunities. The 0-2 grand slam really hurt. That was the major difference in the game.”

Valdez yielded 5 runs - one earned - and 4 hits with seven strikeouts in six innings. He retired 18 of the primary 20 batters he confronted earlier than working into hassle within the seventh.

“He had the walk (to Heim) on a close pitch, and we left him in there because nobody throws a groundball double play better than Framber,” Baker mentioned. “They hit two balls through the infield that could have been double-play balls. You’re trying to get a double play, and he’s the best double-play guy that I had on the team, and even in the bullpen.”

Mauricio Dubón stretched his career-long hitting streak to 11 video games with a single within the fifth, however was thrown out making an attempt to advance to second.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: C Mitch Garver (left knee) might be “down a while,” Bochy mentioned. Garver was positioned on the injured listing April 9.

Astros: OF Chas McCormick was out of the lineup for a second straight recreation after leaving Friday’s recreation with imaginative and prescient issues. Baker mentioned McCormick wasn’t 100%, and he didn’t know if McCormick could be obtainable on Monday. … OF Michael Brantley (proper shoulder) took reside batting follow, Baker mentioned.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Bochy turned 68 on Sunday. He improved to 11-11 when managing on his birthday, together with 8-5 in highway video games.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 4.32 ERA) begins Monday reverse Royals RHP Jordan Lyles (0-2, 5.19 ERA) within the opener of a three-game sequence at Kansas City.

Astros: RHP Cristian Javier (1-0, 4.24 ERA) begins Monday at dwelling within the opener of a three-game sequence in opposition to Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 1.35).

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