Rangers defeat Astros in 10 innings thanks to a walk-off bomb by Josh Smith.
On Monday night in Arlington, Texas, Josh Smith gave the Texas Rangers a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros with a two-run, walk-off home slam in the bottom of the 10th inning with two outs. It was Smith’s 3-1 fastball against Caleb Ferguson (1-4) that sent the ball into the right-center bleachers, giving the Rangers only their third win in their previous ten games.
The Rangers outhit the Astros 5-4, with Corey Seager adding a home run to their total. With his 12th shot of the year, Smith also scored Adolis Garcia, the automatic runner. Houston dropped its sixth straight game despite having two hits and two RBIs from Jeremy Pena and a home run from Alex Bregman. Without getting a single, the Astros jumped out to a 3-2 lead in the top of the tenth.
Kirby Yates (4-1) hit Yainer Diaz and Pena with successive pitches, forcing in a run when there were runners on first and second with one out. In the bottom of the eighth, with two outs, Seager launched a solo drive that tied the game at two with his 23rd home run of the year. Ryan Pressly’s full-count fastball was entirely overtaken by Seager, who then sent the ball over the wall in right center to record his fourth home run in as many games. After a single, two intentional walks against David Robertson, and one out in the top of the eighth, Houston loaded the bases to tie the game at one.
After that, Pena hit a bouncer to third, and Josh Jung’s attempt to put it in was easily beaten by Jose Altuve. Houston took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning thanks to a home run by Bregman with two outs. He has now played 15 long balls this season. After the home run, Texas starter Andrew Heaney retired the next ten Astros without giving up another hit or run. In six innings, he walked one and struck out four.
Hunter Brown of Houston surrendered three hits and one run in six innings. He walked two and struck out four. In the fifth inning, Brown allowed the Rangers to score their lone run. After Garcia singled, Nathaniel Lowe walked and moved to third. After that, Leody Taveras hit a fly to left, and Lowe scored with ease since Houston’s Chas McCormick’s throw home was well beyond the plate.
