AP

Urquidy solid, Astros belt three HRs in 7-2 win over Rangers

Sep 15, 2021, 8:21 AM | Updated: 9:01 pm

Houston Astros' Marwin Gonzalez rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off of Texas Rangers...

Houston Astros' Marwin Gonzalez rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off of Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kohei Arihara, rear, in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)


              Houston Astros' Marwin Gonzalez kneels by the plate after being hit in the bottom right leg by a pitch thrown by Texas Rangers starter Kohei Arihara in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. Gonzalez remained in the game. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
            
              Texas Rangers second baseman Nick Solak is unable to reach a single hit by Houston Astros' Jose Altuve in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
            
              Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker gestures to the team's dugout as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
            
              Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) follows through on a run-scoring double in the fifth inning of a baseball game as Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim and umpire Nick Mahrley, right, look on in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The hit scored Jose Altuve. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
            
              Houston Astros' Chas McCormick (20) follows through on a two-run single in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. The hit scored Kyle Tucker and Yuli Gurriel. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
            
              Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kohei Arihara throws in the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
            
              Houston Astros relief pitcher Brandon Bielak throws in the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
            
              Houston Astros' Marwin Gonzalez rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off of Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kohei Arihara, rear, in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jake Meyers and Marwin Gonzalez hit consecutive homers in a three-run second inning, Kyle Tucker homered among his three hits, and Jose Urquidy allowed one run and two hits in six innings for his first win since June 23 as the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Wednesday night.

Urquidy (7-3) struck out six and walked one in beating Texas for third time in four career starts, helping the AL West-leading Astros win for the third time in four games. It was the longest of Urquidy’s three September starts after missing two months with a shoulder injury.

Astros manager Dusty Baker was impressed by both Urquidy’s command and maintaining his velocity.

“The last time out, his velocity dropped like the third or fourth (inning),” Baker said. “He had a very good changeup, and his slider was good. Just an overall good performance.”

Urquidy, from Mexico, said he was proud to win on Sept. 15, because it’s both Mexico’s independence holiday and the major leagues’ Roberto Clemente Day.

Meyers’ solo shot, his fifth of the season, broke an 0-for-12 skid. Gonzalez’s homer was his fourth of the season and his second homer and second hit since rejoining the club Sunday.

Tucker hit a leadoff homer in the eighth, his 26th, after singling in the second and doubling in the fourth. He also scored three runs.

Chas McCormick hit a two-run single and Yordan Alvarez had an RBI double.

Brock Holt scored Texas’ first run in the third inning on a groundout after hitting his first triple since Aug. 2019. Willie Calhoun, who DH’ed in his first game since suffering a fractured forearm on June 26, went 2 for 4, accounting for half of the Rangers’ hits.

Kohei Arihara (2-4) didn’t retire a batter in the fifth inning, and was pulled after three batters. Making his third start since undergoing shoulder surgery in May, Arihara allowed six runs on eight hits and hit two batters.

Urquidy retired 11 straight after Holt’s triple, until a two-out single in the sixth by Calhoun.

Meyers’ opposite-field homer carried 401 feet to right field. Gonzalez, a switch-hitter, pulled his blast 404 feet, just inside the right-field foul pole.

Gonzalez has two homers in four games with the Astros after hitting two in 77 games with the Boston Red Sox before his release on Aug. 16.

Holt tripled to deep right when Tucker couldn’t make a backhand catch on the warning track while running toward the wall and hitting face-first. Holt was activated from the COVID-19 list on Tuesday and played his first game since Aug. 21.

McCormick’s hit in the fourth inning came on a 2-2 pitch, after Arihara stepped off the pitching rubber twice, prompting boos from the home crowd.

“When things aren’t going well (for Arihara), everything slows down,” Texas manager Chris Woodward said. “It’s something he’s got to work on.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Rangers C Jose Trevino, the team’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, described the relationship he’d built with Daniel Flagg, a 17-year-old catcher for Pilot Point High School in northern Texas who died in a drowning accident on July 29.

“I gave him catching lessons. I connected with him really well,” Trevino said before the game. “When I got the news that he passed away, it hit home. We don’t realize how much of an impact as a professional we have on people.”

SHORT HOPS

Tucker is hitting .420 in his last 19 games. … Regular Astros SS Carlos Correa and 3B Alex Bregman were given the night off and are scheduled to return for Thursday night’s series finale. … Arihara has allowed 20 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings in five home starts this season, a 10.17 ERA. … Astros RHP Rafael Montero was transferred to the 60-day IL, and INF Robel García was designated for assignment. 1B Taylor Jones and RHP Andre Scrubb were activated off the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: OF Michael Brantley (right knee soreness) was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Monday. … Manager Dusty Baker said RHP Jake Odorizzi (right foot soreness) was walking better than expected but had no timetable on his return.

Rangers: Calhoun was activated Wednesday after missing 67 games. To make room on the 25-man roster, OF Jason Martin was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock. To make room on the 40-man roster, LHP Hyeon-jong Yang was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT

Thursday’s series finale will match Astros LHP Framber Valdez (10-5, 3.26 ERA) against Rangers RHP Glenn Otto (0-1, 6.92). Valdez has beaten Texas twice this season, allowing two runs in 13 innings. Otto, acquired July 29 from the New York Yankees in the Joey Gallo trade, gave up eight runs in 3 1/3 innings at Oakland last Friday. Otto will be followed by LHP Kolby Allard, making his first relief appearance following 17 straight starts since late May.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Urquidy solid, Astros belt three HRs in 7-2 win over Rangers