ARLINGTON, TX – May 18, 2025 – The Houston Astros rallied for a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers last night at Globe Life Field, powered by a late-inning home run from Isaac Paredes, securing a split in the four-game series.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (3-4) earned the win, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out eight. Bryan Abreu pitched a scoreless eighth, and Josh Hader (11th save) closed out the ninth. For the Rangers, rookie Jack Leiter had a strong outing, taking a no-hitter into the seventh, but reliever Robert Garcia (1-2) took the loss after surrendering the go-ahead homer.
The Rangers broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. Josh Jung hit an RBI single, Jonah Heim followed with a sacrifice fly, and Jake Burger added an RBI single, giving Texas a 3-0 lead.
The Astros offense was largely held in check by Jack Leiter, who was masterful through the first six innings. However, in the top of the seventh, Yainer Díaz broke up Leiter’s no-hit bid with a solo home run to right-center field, his fifth of the season, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The decisive moment came in the top of the eighth inning. After Jack Leiter was pulled following two soft singles, Rangers reliever Robert Garcia took the mound. With two outs and two runners on, Isaac Paredes stepped to the plate and launched a go-ahead, three-run home run to left field, his seventh of the season, just barely clearing the wall. This monumental blast flipped the score, giving the Astros a 4-3 lead.
Josh Hader then pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out two to seal the victory and earn his 11th save of the season.
Despite being outhit by the Rangers 7-4, the Astros’ timely hitting, especially the late-game heroics from Paredes and Díaz’s no-hit-breaking homer, proved enough. The win improved the Astros’ record to 24-22.
