Desmond hits go-ahead single in 11th, Rangers beat Astros

It was the second two-homer performance in the past three games for Alvarez, who has hit five home runs in the past three games and six in the past five, bringing his season total to 18.

HOUSTON: The Astros are 8-1 in Fister’s last nine starts versus American League West rivals and are 6-1 in his last seven starts coming off four days of rest.

Dallas Keuchel rebounded from a poor start with a complete-game shutout and the Houston Astros showed life offensively in their 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers Friday night at Minute Maid Park.

And before departing with a left quad contusion in the seventh inning, Carlos Beltran produced three hits, including an RBI single that scored Shin-Soo Choo and gave the Rangers the lead for good. Keone Kela, Jeremy Jeffress, Jake Diekman each added a ideal inning before Sam Dyson earned his 24th save in the ninth despite allowing the Astros to score a run to pull within 3-2. Astros manager A.J. Hinch was hamstrung by a short bench in the series finale as 1B Tyler White (left knee), UTL Marwin Gonzalez (personal) and OF Carlos Gomez (illness) were unavailable. Texas has lost three of its last four games and registered just three hits in the opener while being handcuffed by reigning AL Cy Young Award victor Dallas Keuchel. Holland is scheduled to throw 45 pitches in his next outing on Wednesday against Nashville.

Dallas Keuchel looked like the reigning AL Cy Young Award victor, and the Houston hitters woke up to support him. Trying to look for the pitch for double plays and when a pitcher tries to throw flawless pitches you don’t have a chance.

Down at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, we’ve got series-closing Major League Baseball action between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. He hasn’t won since June 26 against Boston. Makes it easier to play, makes it easier to get us more excited.

Rangers right-hander Lucas Harrell was in a mess for much of his start Saturday but somehow squirmed out of it for most of his 3 2/3 innings.

MARLINS 5, ROCKIES 3 Martin Prado hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a four-run rally in the ninth inning that sent Miami over host Colorado in a matchup of NL wild-card contenders.

Said Beltre of Keuchel: “We saw the same guy that won the Cy Young previous year. They’re the team people are chasing, so why wouldn’t you want to play them?” Per his reputation of pinpoint control in the minors, he did not issue a walk.Musgrove did allow a run-scoring double to Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy in the fifth, a sharp hit to left that came with no outs and Odor in motion from first base. Stubbs entered Friday 7 for 32 in 11 rehab games. Keuchel is 4-7 with a 4.58 ERA in his career against Texas, including 0-3 with a 7.91 ERA in three starts this season. The Rangers traded with the New York Yankees to land Beltran while getting Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers at Monday’s non-waiver deadline.

RHP Joe Musgrove will start Sunday’s game against the Rangers.