Astros star 2B Altuve injured in collision with SS Correa

The Astros are only 4-4 on their final home stand of the season with Sunday’s series finale against the Rangers left.

The Houston Astros lost All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve, then dropped yet another game to AL West-leading Texas.

The insurance runs proved crucial, because the Rangers mounted a two out rally in the ninth off Luke Gregerson. It was the first time the Astros had a lead against the Rangers in 45 innings.

“That was fun”, Moreland said of the late push. “That’s what you play for right there”. Go out and string those innings together, keep putting pressure on guys. He has to be able to show us that he can do that. Never give up. We fight all 27 outs. “He showed us some quality pitches”.

The Rangers extended their American League West lead over the Astros to 4½ games after beating Houston for the eighth straight time.

“Full of energy and full of life”, he said. “I believe these guys have all the ingredients and all the makings to be the type of ball club that battles through all those types of situations”.

Kazmir, a free agent at season’s end, has allowed nine runs on 15 hits and four walks with only three strikeouts over his last two starts, a span of 7 1/3 innings. The homers hit by Correa came on poorly executed off-speed pitches, and the homer Altuve hit to start the third was on a slider down the middle.

“Full of energy and full of life” said Banister.

“I felt good today”. With Altuve and Correa both pursuing a shallow popup to center field by Rangers SS Elvis Andrus, Correa hit Altuve across the face extending to catch the ball.

Derek Holland got off to a rough start, taking a Jose Altuve liner off of his left hand to start the bottom of the inning. They played solid baseball as the underdog over their last 10 games with a 3-1 record, and a 7-3 record SU.

The Astros answered right back, knotting the game at four in the bottom of the inning with two more home runs. He added a two-run homer in the fourth.

– Tied Lance Berkman for most home runs by an Astros rookie with 21.

Moreland drove in two runs with a double in the first inning to make it 2-0.

Choo, who had three hits, put Texas up 3-0 with an RBI single in a two-run second.

“His ability to stay calm in the moment continues to shine through”, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Gomez could be used as a defensive replacement or a pinch runner before he’s healthy enough to get back in the lineup….

But there is an issue, or multiple issues, with Holland as the Texas Rangers try to lock down their first division title since 2011. The former AL MVP had been limited to two pinch-hitting appearances in his return from September 11 left knee surgery.

“I got smoked”, Holland said.

“We have to find a way to do better”, Hinch said.