Yordan Alvarez went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the eighth inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.
Alvarez has hit five home runs in his last three games to pull even with Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami for the American League lead with 20 homers.
Mike Burrows (3-6) allowed two runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts over seven innings. He retired 20 of his final 23 batters to help Houston win for the fifth time in its last six games. Bryan King gave up Joc Pederson’s leadoff homer in the bottom of the eighth before Enyel De Los Santos pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for his fourth save.
Alvarez broke a 2-2 tie by crushing a 3-0 sweeper from Tyler Alexander (1-1) to start the eighth. After Christian Walker walked, another run scored on Taylor Trammell’s sacrifice bunt when Alexander’s throw sailed past first baseman Jake Burger.
Pederson went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo homers for Texas, which has lost five of its last six. Pederson has gone deep three times in his last two games.
The Rangers claimed a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Burrows, who was greeted by Pederson’s leadoff single. Pederson moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Brandon Nimmo’s one-out single.
Houston answered with a run in the second inning against Jacob deGrom, who was denied in his bid for his 100th career victory.
Trammell doubled to begin the inning, advanced to third on Cam Smith’s fly ball and scored on Braden Shewmake’s sacrifice fly.
Pederson began the third inning by depositing Burrows’ 0-1 changeup over the wall in right center.
Houston pulled even on Alvarez’s leadoff homer in the fourth against deGrom, who allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out six.
With two more home runs on Wednesday, Alvarez has 25 homers against the Rangers in 72 regular season games.
