AP

Altuve, Urquidy lead Astros to 5-2 win over Rangers

May 22, 2022, 2:29 AM | Updated: 3:27 pm

Houston Astros' Yuli Gurriel hits a RBI-double against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of...

Houston Astros' Yuli Gurriel hits a RBI-double against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)


              Houston Astros' Yuli Gurriel hits a RBI-double against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
            
              Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez watches his RBI-double against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
            
              Texas Rangers' Mitch Garver hits a home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
            
              Texas Rangers starting pitcher Taylor Hearn throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
            
              Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
            
              Houston Astros' Jose Altuve hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
            
              Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a leadoff home run and a double, José Urquidy tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 Sunday.

Urquidy (4-1) allowed six hits and one run in a season-high 6 2/3 innings as the Astros won for the third time in this four-game series. Urquidy improved to 4-0 in five career starts against the Rangers and has won three straight games overall.

“He was great,” manager Dusty Baker said. “He had excellent control, he had a good breaking ball and his changeup was back to where it usually is.”

Blake Taylor gave up a single to Kole Calhoun to start the ninth before plunking Mitch Garver. He was replaced by closer Ryan Pressly with one out and Sam Huff singled to load the bases. Brad Miller lined a single to center field to score Calhoun and cut the lead to 5-2.

But pinch-hitter Jonah Heim grounded into a double play to end the game and give Pressly his sixth save.

“Our at-bats got better late,” Texas manager Chris Woodward said. “We just didn’t put enough pressure on early.”

Altuve hit his fifth leadoff homer this season and the 26th of his career. He has nine home runs this season, and all but one of them have come this month.

“He’s our igniter,” Baker said. “He starts our engine.”

Texas starter Taylor Hearn (2-3) allowed six hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings for the loss.

“He was OK,” Woodward said. “He just had a hard time finishing guys off. I think that’s kind of been the theme lately. He’ll get ahead of guys and he just won’t wipe them out, won’t finish them.”

Garver hit a solo homer for the Rangers that cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth, but Houston added two runs in the bottom of the inning to push the lead to 4-1.

Altuve’s leadoff homer to the seats in left field gave the Astros an early lead.

There was one out in the third when Altuve doubled before Michael Brantley drew a walk. A double by Alex Bregman came next to score Altuve and make it 2-0.

Yordan Alvarez reached on a fielder’s choice when Brantley was thrown out at the plate and Hearn retired Yuli Gurriel to end the inning.

Garver opened the fifth inning with his shot to left field to cut the lead to 2-1. Huff and Miller hit consecutive singles with one out, but Urquidy struck out Eli White before retiring Marcus Semien to leave them stranded.

There were two outs in the fifth when Hearn walked Bregman. Alvarez doubled to center field to score Bregman and chase Hearn and he was replaced by Brett Martin. Gurriel greeted him with a run-scoring double to push the lead to 4-1.

Miller singled with one on and two outs in the seventh to end Urquidy’s outing. Miller was initially ruled out, but the Rangers challenged the play and it was overturned. Rafael Montero took over and struck out White to end the inning.

Rookie Jeremy Peña extended the lead to 5-1 with an RBI single in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: RHP Lance McCullers Jr., who has been out all season with a strained flexor tendon in his pitching arm, threw off the mound Sunday for the first time since he was injured during the playoffs last season. McCullers said he felt good and that it was an important step as he continues his recovery. There is no timetable for his return.

THEY SAID IT

Bregman on his good day at the plate after struggling for the past week: “I’m pretty good at baseball. I’ve just got to make some adjustments every now and again.”

UP NEXT

Rangers: Texas is off Monday before starting a two-game series against the Angels on Tuesday night with Dane Dunning (1-2, 3.92 ERA) on the mound.

Astros: Luis Garcia (3-2, 3.35) will start Monday night when Houston opens a three-game series with Cleveland. The Guardians haven’t released their rotation for the series.

___

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

Altuve, Urquidy lead Astros to 5-2 win over Rangers