ARLINGTON, Texas — September 5, 2025 — In a dramatic, back-and-forth battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats for over four hours, the Texas Rangers defeated the Houston Astros 4-3 in 12 innings at Globe Life Field. The walk-off victory in the Silver Boot Series, fueled by a clutch hit from Dustin Harris, was a major blow to the Astros and a huge boost for the Rangers’ playoff hopes.
The game started as a tense pitching duel, with Rangers starter Merrill Kelly delivering a masterful performance, holding the Astros to just one run and five hits over seven strong innings. The Rangers took an early lead with a two-run homer from Jake Burger, a soaring blast in the third inning that gave the home team a 3-1 lead. However, the Astros refused to give up. The game remained a tight, low-scoring affair until the eighth inning when Carlos Correa hit a clutch two-out home run that tied the game at 3-3 and sent the game into extra innings.
The bullpens took over from there, with both teams’ relievers trading scoreless innings. The tension was palpable as runners were stranded on the base paths in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh innings. In the bottom of the 12th, with the automatic runner placed on second base, Dustin Harris stepped to the plate facing Lance McCullers Jr. In a moment of pure drama, he ripped a walk-off double down the right-field line. The ball landed fair, and the runner from second raced home to score the game-winning run, sending the Rangers’ dugout into a wild celebration.
The loss for the Astros drops their record to 77-65, though they still maintain a 3.5-game lead in the AL West standings. The victory was a pivotal one for the Rangers, who improved to 73-69 and are now just a half-game back from the final American League Wild Card spot. The win was a testament to the Rangers’ resilience and their determination to stay in the postseason race. The two teams will meet again on Saturday for the second game of the series.