Astros 9, Rangers 7
HOUSTON -- Rookie shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve recorded multi-home run games as the Houston Astros kept alive their slim American League West title hopes with a 9-7 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros (81-74) snapped an eight-game losing skid to the Rangers (84-70) by bashing six home runs, two each from Correa and Altuve. Houston closed the deficit in the AL West to 3 1/2 games and set up a crucial rubber match Sunday.
Correa belted his 20th and 21st home runs in the first and third innings, setting a new club record for home runs by a shortstop (previously set by Dickie Thon in 1983) while matching the franchise mark for homers by a rookie (Lance Berkman, 2000). Correa finished 3-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and three RBIs.
Altuve recorded his first career multi-homer game, pulling the Astros to within 4-2 with his leadoff shot to left off Rangers left-hander Derek Holland in the third inning before adding his 14th home run on the season with one out in the eighth. Altuve finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Rangers grabbed a 3-0 lead against Astros right-hander Collin McHugh (18-7) in the first inning, with first baseman Mitch Moreland delivering a two-out, two-run double that scored Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre, who singled and walked, respectively, to start the rally.
Texas reclaimed its three-run lead in the third when right fielder Shin-Soo Choo crushed his 20th home run to left field, matching the solo shot Correa struck to pull the Astros within 3-1. But Altuve and Correa homered around a George Springer single in the third, with Correa knotting the score with his two-run shot off Holland to left field.
Houston pulled ahead 5-4 when first baseman Chris Carter greeted Rangers right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (4-6) with his 21st homer leading off the sixth. Colby Rasmus, who entered as a defensive replacement in left field in the seventh, added his 22nd homer on the first pitch of the seventh, doing so against Texas left-hander Sam Freeman.
The Rangers rallied with two outs in the ninth off Astros closer Luke Gregerson, stringing together four consecutive hits, including an RBI infield single from Choo and a two-run single from Fielder. After Gregerson surrendered three runs, right-hander Will Harris had to enter to retire Moreland, recording his second save in the process.
NOTES: Despite leaving Friday night's game in the seventh inning following a collision with SS Carlos Correa, Astros 2B Jose Altuve was back in the starting lineup. Altuve passed concussion tests after the series opener and, despite some residual soreness from the impact, was deemed fit to play on Saturday. ... Rangers LF Josh Hamilton made his first start since Aug. 15, a significant step forward after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee Sept. 11. Hamilton had made just four pinch-hit appearances this month prior to Saturday. ... Astros manager A.J. Hinch announced that LHP Scott Kazmir would make his scheduled start on Wednesday in Seattle despite his ongoing struggles. Kazmir is 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA in five starts this month and has logged a total of 7 1/3 innings in back-to-back home starts, allowing nine runs on 15 hits and four walks to the Athletics and Rangers.