Framber Valdez tossed seven shutout innings, Martin Maldonado and Alex Bregman each drove in three runs with home runs, and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 7-3 on Thursday.
The Astros (72-41) moved a game and a half ahead of the floundering New York Yankees in the fight for the best record in the American League, just as manager Dusty Baker returned after missing five games due to contracting COVID-19.
Valdez (11-4) gave up four singles and struck out eight for his third straight victory.
Houston pummeled rookie Cole Ragans (0-1), who gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers hit back-to-back singles with one out in the second inning before Maldonado hit the ball to make it 3-0.
Yuli Gurriel singled to lead off the fifth inning for Houston. Bregman’s one-out homer hit the left-field wall to make it 5-0 and end Ragans, 24, who was making his second major league start.
For the Astros, the Venezuelan José Altuve 4-0. Cubans Yuli Gurriel 4-3, two runs scored, and Aledmys Díaz 3-1, one RBI. The Dominican Jeremy Peña 4-1, one scored. Puerto Rican Martín Maldonado 4-1, one run scored, three produced.
For the Rangers, the Cuban Adolis García 4-1. Dominicans Leody Taveras 4-2, one RBI, and Ezequiel Durán 4-1.
