Brad Miller hit an RBI single to the infield to break a tie at the scoreboard in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers strung out their third straight victory on Monday by beating AL West leaders 5-3. the Houston Astros.
Jonah Heim greeted reliever Hector Neris (1-3) with a single that led off a three-run eighth inning before pinch-runner Charlie Culberson stole second base and advanced on a groundout. Ezequiel Durán singled him home and, after stealing his first MLB base, the rookie reached third on a wild pitch before Miller’s hit.
Brock Burke (4-1), the second of the Texas relievers, pitched two shutout innings for the win and Matt Moore pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
For the Astros, the Venezuelan José Altuve 4-1, with a run scored. Cubans Yordan Álvarez 4-2, with an RBI; Yulieski Gurriel 4-0; Aledmys Diaz 1-0. The Dominican Jeremy Peña 3-1, with a run scored. Honduran Mauricio Dubón 4-1, with one scored and one produced. Puerto Rican Martin Maldonado 3-0.
For the Rangers, the Cuban Adolis García 4-1, with an RBI. Dominicans Ezequiel Durán 4-2, with a run scored and an RBI; Leody Taveras 3-1, with a run scored.