ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers’ biggest players came up big in the first game of a big four-game series on Monday night, allowing the Rangers to move within a half-game of first place in the AL West.
Prince Fielder followed Adrian Beltre’s one-out single in the eighth inning with a tiebreaking, two-run home run to straight-away center field into a stuff wind to lead Texas to a 5-3 win over the first-place Houston Astros.
Mitch Moreland hit his team-leading 20th home run and left-hander Cole Hamels stranded nine runners in seven innings for Texas, which has won four straight against the Astros and leads the season series 9-4.
“We had to grind and show some mental and grit,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said. “Didn’t get rattled. Stayed focused. It really goes along with how we’ve played all year.”
“Every day, we’re going to talk about someone’s going to have the lead,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. “We have it, and we’ve had it for a long time.”
Fielder’s homer, which traveled an estimated 408 feet, came on 3-2 pitch from Will Harris (5-4). It ended a 46 at-bat homerless for the slugger.
“That felt good,” Fielder said. “Anytime you square a ball up, you feel good.”
The Rangers, who finished with the league’s worst record last season, haven’t been this close to first place since April 17. They hold a one-game lead over Minnesota for the league’s second wild card, which they’ve held since Aug. 27.
Hamels allowed three runs in seven innings and expressed disappointment in his performance. Banister moved him back a day in the rotation to open the series. Jose Altuve hit Hamels’ sixth pitch for his 12th homer to put Houston ahead two batters in.
“This is the type of playoff atmosphere that you’re trying to play in front of,” said Hamels, a veteran of two World Series with the Phillies. “You can’t leave pitches out over the plate ’cause every single one of those guys in that lineup can do damage.”
Keone Kela (7-5) got the win, retiring one of two batters, and Shawn Tolleson earned his 32nd save in 34 attempts.
In a matchup of high profile left-handers acquired in late July, neither Hamels nor Houston’s Scott Kazmir earned a decision.
Houston is 2-5 on a season-high 11-game road trip. The Astros’ 29-43 road record is the worst in the league.
Hamels was the third of five consecutive left-handers that Houston will face on this trip.
Via AP