The Astros wasted no time putting Friday night’s loss behind them.
Yordan Alvarez launched his American League-leading 31st home run in the first inning, LaMonte Wade Jr. crushed the first grand slam of his major league career, and Peter Lambert delivered another strong outing as Houston rolled to a 9-3 victory over the Rangers on Saturday night at Globe Life Field.
The win evened the Silver Boot Series and sent the Astros into Sunday’s first-half finale at 47-50, two games behind Texas in the American League West.
Houston struck immediately against Rangers starter Kumar Rocker. Jeremy Peña reached on an infield single and advanced to second on Nick Lopez’s throwing error before Alvarez drove a 1-0 fastball over the center-field wall for a two-run homer.
The Astros broke the game open in the third. Alvarez doubled and Isaac Paredes walked before Christian Walker struck out. Jose Altuve then lined a two-out single to load the bases. Wade made Rocker pay, hammering a 1-1 slider to right field for his second home run of the season and the first grand slam of his major league career, stretching Houston’s lead to 6-0.
Christian Vázquez added to the barrage an inning later, lining his fifth homer of the season into the left-field seats to make it 7-0. Lambert took care of the rest. The right-hander allowed just one run on three hits across six innings. He walked one, struck out seven, and threw a career-high 107 pitches while lowering his ERA to 3.14. The lone blemish came on Ezequiel Duran’s solo home run in the fourth.
Houston tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth when Isaac Paredes scored on a balk and Cam Smith lifted a sacrifice fly. Texas answered with Duran’s second home run of the night, a two-run shot off AJ Blubaugh, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Alvarez finished 2-for-3 with a home run, double, two RBIs, two walks, and two runs scored. Wade drove in four with his grand slam, while Vázquez went 1-for-3 with a homer, a walk, and two runs scored. Paredes reached base three times, and Altuve collected a hit and scored.
Houston and Texas wrap up the first half Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Field, with the winner claiming the series before the All-Star break.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check our complete Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
