One night after a combined no-hitter, the Houston Astros ran into a first inning they would like to forget.
Jason Alexander allowed eight runs in the first inning—five before recording an out—and the Astros never recovered in a 10-7 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday at Globe Life Field. Alexander recovered enough to complete six innings but finished having allowed nine runs on six hits, with his ERA climbing to 9.33. Houston fell to 24-32.
The Rangers sent ten batters to the plate in the first. Jake Burger’s two-run single and Evan Carter’s two-run triple put Texas up 4-0 before Ezequiel Duran doubled in another run. With two outs and two on, Joc Pederson hit a three-run home run to make it 8-0. Evan Carter added a solo home run in the third to push it to 9-0.
Yordan Alvarez gave the Astros a chance to climb back in the game. He hit two home runs—a three-run shot in the third, and a solo shot in the eighth—finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Cam Smith added a solo homer in the eighth, his fifth of the season. Jeremy Peña hit his first home run of the season in the ninth.
Jack Leiter earned the win, allowing four runs on four hits in six innings.
Taylor Trammell made his season debut in left field, going 1-for-2 with a single before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
Game three of the Silver Boot Series is Wednesday night at Globe Life Field. Mike Burrows starts for Houston against Jacob deGrom.
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