Rangers at Astros
The Texas Rangers got a big boost from an unlikely source to snap a five-game skid Saturday in Houston and they have a chance for their first series win of the year when they finish a three-game set with the host Astros on Sunday. The Rangers were 4-11, had lost four of five on the season against their in-state rivals and trailed 5-0 on Saturday before rallying for a 6-5 win in 10 innings.
Ronald Guzman, playing his second career game, homered in the eighth to tie it and then delivered an RBI infield hit in the 10th to provide the difference for Texas. "They play like they’ve been here for a while and hit with confidence," third baseman Adrian Beltre told reporters of Guzman and fellow rookie Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who hit his first major league homer in the fifth to start the scoring for Texas. "It’s good for them to show what they can do just in case there’s an opening for them once everyone gets back. Those guys play hungry and jump around all the time so we can all feel that energy and hopefully start playing better." The Astros have dropped three of four since their 9-2 start. They turn to right-hander Justin Verlander in the series finale opposite Bartolo Colon in a matchup of two hurlers with a combined 430 career wins.
TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (0-0, 1.64 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (2-0, 1.45)
Colon had a stellar season debut with six strong innings in a no-decision at Oakland before making two appearances out of the bullpen for the Rangers. The 44-year-old has struck out 10 and walked one through 11 innings on the season and opponents have only one extra-base hit against him. Jose Altuve is 8-for-20 with a pair of doubles against Colon, who is 8-4 with a 4.09 ERA in his career versus Houston.
Two of Verlander's first three starts have been of the scoreless variety, including a seven-inning gem in a win at Minnesota on Monday. He has fanned nine batters in each of his last two outings and owns 23 against four walks through his first 18 2/3 frames. The 35-year-old is 7-0 with a 1.20 ERA in eight starts since joining Houston last August, including six scoreless innings and a victory in his 2018 debut at Texas on March 29.
WALK-OFFS
1. Beltre slugged his first home run of the season and the 463rd of his career Saturday to move into a tie with Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera for 35th on the all-time list.
2. Altuve has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games.
3. Rangers OF Nomar Mazara (neck) missed Saturday's game and is day-to-day.