ARLINGTON, Texas (Sept. 5) \u2014 The Texas Rangers<\/a> took the opener in a crucial series against the Houston Astros<\/a>, beating them, 4\u20133, Friday. A walk-off double by Dustin Harris<\/a><\/strong> in the twelfth was enough to give the Rangers the upper hand in the latest installment of the Silver Boot series. They’ll try to notch the series victory Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:15 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Right-hander Hunter Brown<\/a><\/strong> (10\u20137, 2.34 ERA) will get the ball for the Astros, while Jacob deGrom<\/a><\/strong> (11-6, 2.69 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers.<\/p>\n The Astros opened the scoring in the top of the second with Merrill Kelly<\/a><\/strong> pitching for the Rangers. It all started with a one-out walk to Jesus Sanchez<\/a><\/strong>. Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong> followed with an infield single that gave Cody Freeman<\/a><\/strong> fits at second, and Sanchez advanced to third on a throwing error by Freeman. Moments later, Victor Caratini<\/a><\/strong> scored Sanchez on a sharp single to right.<\/p>\n The Rangers answered back in the bottom of the second against Astros starter Colton Gordon<\/a><\/strong>. Josh Jung<\/a><\/strong> lined a one-out single to left to set the table. Ezequiel Duran<\/a><\/strong> followed suit with a single to right, nudging Jung over to third. That brought up Rangers newcomer Dylan Moore<\/a><\/strong>, who plated Jung with a sacrifice fly to center.<\/p>\n The Rangers took a 3\u20131 lead in the bottom of the third. With one out on the board, Gordon issued a free pass to Wyatt Langford<\/a><\/strong>. On deck was Jake Burger<\/a><\/strong>. He launched an unsuspecting victim to Tater Town in left for his 13th homer of the year.<\/p>\n The Astros struck back in the top of the eighth off reliever Chris Martin<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Jeremy Pena<\/a><\/strong> led off with a single that eluded Jung at third.\u00a0The Rangers caught a break when Yordan Alvarez<\/a><\/strong> grounded into a double play, but their luck wouldn’t last. A double to left by Jose Altuve<\/a><\/strong> brought up Carlos Correa<\/a><\/strong>, who blasted a two-run home run to right to tie it at three all. It marked his 11th long ball of the year.<\/p>\n The Rangers took control in the bottom of the 12th against reliever Lance McCullers Jr.<\/a><\/strong> Cody Freeman trotted out to second to represent the automatic runner. McCullers opened the inning by walking Langford, bringing up Harris. Harris hit a double to right, his third of the season, to plate Freeman.<\/p>\n The Rangers trailed early on Friday thanks to Caratini’s RBI single in the second. The Rangers came forward to help their cause in the bottom half of that frame with Moore’s sacrifice fly that scored Jung. Burger, who was activated from the IL a couple of days prior, made a big splash with his two-run blast in the third.<\/p>\n Then you had Harris’ walk-off double in the 12th. Things don’t always go your way in this game. When that happens, it’s important to stay in the game.<\/p>\n Caratini’s RBI hit was the first sign of trouble, but things got worrisome when Correa tied the game with his two-run bomb in the eighth. The game remained tied for four more frames before the winning run was scored.<\/p>\n Rangers starter Merrill Kelly\u00a0<\/b>did not factor into the decision despite tossing seven innings of one-run ball. His line was 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R-ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 94 pitches\/63 strikes. Friday marked his fifth consecutive quality start dating back to August 13. He posted a 2.23 ERA, 4 walks, and 25 strikeouts in that span. Kelly matched his longest quality start streak since the start of 2023.<\/p>\n All five of his hits allowed were singles. He retired five straight, 10 of 11, and 12 of his final 14 batters faced, exiting with a 3\u20131 lead after seven complete. Kelly limited the \u2018Stros to a 1-for-9 (.111) clip his third time through the order. Over seven starts for the Rangers since being acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> at the trade deadline, Kelly is 2\u20131 with a 2.98 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, nine walks and 35 strikeouts.<\/p>\n The win went to reliever Robert Garcia<\/a><\/strong>, after tossing a spotless ninth inning, improving his record to 3\u20137 with an ERA of 3.17.<\/p>\n Astros starter Colton Gordon also took a no-decision in his 16th career appearance, 14th start of his rookie campaign. It was his first appearance since being recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land earlier in the day. His final line was 4 1\/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R-ER, 2 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR, 71 pitches\/49 strikes. Gordon had traffic on the base paths in each of his first three frames, allowing the sac fly to Moore in the 2nd and Burger’s home run in the bottom of the third. He was relieved with one on and one out in the 5th by AJ Blubaugh<\/a><\/strong>, who stranded the inherited runner.<\/p>\n After yielding the walk-off base hit to Harris in the 12th, McCullers Jr. was dealt the loss. That brings his record to 2\u20135 with an ERA of 6.97.<\/p>\n After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy<\/strong><\/a> discussed Harris’ late-inning heroics. \u201cThat’s quite the at-bat, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d he said. \u201cThe kids have come up and have done so much to contribute. It’s good to see how these guys have come up and just the way they’ve handled themselves. That\u2019s a pressure situation there, and I just love the way he handled himself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you have the injuries that we have, a lot of core guys are out, we need them and they’re coming through, doing some really good things, all of them,\u201d Bochy continued. \u201cThere’s no point talking about the injuries. You\u2019ve got to focus forward. They’re taking advantage of it. They’re playing the game of baseball. I’m proud of these young kids, because you’re in a lot of important games right now. You wouldn’t know it by watching them play.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\nSmash Burger<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for the Rangers<\/h3>\n
What Went Wrong for the Rangers<\/h3>\n
Good Effort by Kelly<\/h4>\n
Gordon’s Outing<\/h4>\n
Bochy’s Postgame Comments<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>