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Christian Walker’s three-run homer capped a six-run seventh inning as the Houston Astros finally woke up on offense and beat up on the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Friday in Arlington, Texas.

Houston went the first 15 2/3 innings of this series without a run but broke out off two Rangers relievers in the seventh. Cam Smith doubled home Jake Meyers with two outs, cutting Houston’s deficit to 2-1 and chasing Texas reliever Hoby Milner.

Shawn Armstrong (1-1) entered and walked Jeremy Pena and Jose Altuve to load the bases before Isaac Paredes slashed a two-run single to right field to put the Astros up 3-2. Walker then ripped a three-run homer over the left field fence to expand Houston’s lead, making a winner out of Kaleb Ort (1-0), the third of six Astros pitchers.

Houston evened the four-game series between the Lone Star State rivals and won for the third time in the past four contests. Texas had a season-high six-game winning streak snapped despite getting another solid performance from its starting pitcher.

Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi worked out of trouble in the first inning and improved throughout his scoreless 5 2/3-inning stint. He allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out five.

The Rangers got on the board in the second inning on Jonah Heim’s two-out RBI single to right field off Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. The hit brought home Josh Jung and Evan Carter. Both of the runs were unearned because of an error by Houston shortstop Pena that extended the inning.

McCullers lasted through the fourth, leaving after throwing 84 pitches. He allowed the two unearned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two in his longest stint since 2022. His performance on Friday in just his third start of the year since his return from a two-plus season absence prompted by arm injuries. He lowered his ERA from 15.75 to 7.88.

Houston outhit the Rangers 9-5, with Walker, Smith and Victor Caratini amassing two hits each for the Astros.

The Houston bullpen retired 13 consecutive batters before Jung homered off closer Josh Hader with one out in the ninth.

–Field Level Media