Astros 4, Rangers 3
Robbie Grossman capped a 3-for-3 night with a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning as host Houston beat Texas for the sixth consecutive time.
Red-hot Chris Carter swatted a solo homer and injury replacement Gregorio Petit added a run-scoring double as the Astros halted their three-game losing streak. Brett Oberholtzer allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings before Jose Veras (2-0) worked a perfect eighth for the win and Chad Qualls gave up one run and three hits in the ninth for his 13th save.
J.P. Arencibia clubbed a two-run shot and Adam Rosales collected two hits and scored a run for the Rangers, who were denied their first three-game winning streak since mid-June. Reliever Neal Cotts (2-6) was knocked around for three runs and four hits in one inning after starter Miles Mikolas gave up one run in five innings.
Arencibia provided Texas with an early lead with a two-run shot three batters into the game, giving him 22 RBIs in 19 contests since the All-Star break. Houston cut the deficit in half when Carter continued his torrid stretch with a towering blast onto the train tracks in left field for his major league-leading 12th homer since July 4.
The Astros forged ahead in the eighth against Cotts as Jon Singleton led off with a single and Grossman went deep two batters later. Petit, who replaced Jose Altuve in the top of the sixth, added an insurance run with a two-out RBI double later in the frame to make it 4-2.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Rangers SS Elvis Andrus went 0-for-3 to halt his 13-game hitting streak. ... Astros 2B Altuve, who leads the majors in hits, exited the game after fouling out in the fifth due to discomfort in his neck and is questionable for Saturday. ... Rangers RF Alex Rios, who cleared waivers Thursday, was not in the starting lineup after aggravating an ankle injury. The team activated C Geovany Soto from the 15-day disabled list and designated RHP Jerome Williams for assignment.