Astros vs Rangers Recap: Yordan Delivers 2 Homers in Walkoff-Drama

The Astros rolled into Arlington riding a hot streak after winning their last game. Texas was hungry too, but things looked grim after getting blasted 10-7 the night before. Houston's lineup was missing some key players like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, but they still had a secret weapon: Yordan Alvarez. The superstar slugger was swinging like a man on a mission. By the end of this Thursday night battle, the Astros would escape with a 4-3 victory. Joc Pederson gave Texas two homers, but Mike Burrows' pitching kept Houston in control all night long.

Brandon Nimmo drove in the Rangers' first run in the first inning with a single to right field. Houston answered back immediately. Braden Shewmake lifted a sacrifice fly to center in the second, and Taylor Trammell raced home to make it 1-1. Then Joc Pederson crushed one. His 423-foot blast sailed over the right-center fence and Texas grabbed a 2-1 lead. But Yordan Alvarez was just getting warmed up. The Astros superstar connected on a 92-mph slider from deGrom in the fourth inning. His 428-foot moon shot cut the deficit to 2-2. The game was tied tight heading into the later innings.

The eighth inning was all Astros. Tyler Alexander took over pitching for Texas and it did not go well. Alvarez stepped in and crushed a 79-mph sweeper. The ball screamed toward the center field wall and disappeared into the night for his second home run. Houston led 3-2. Taylor Trammell followed with a sacrifice bunt that turned into a throwing error. Walker scored and Houston extended it to 4-2. Texas refused to roll over though. Joc Pederson cranked another shot off Bryan King—a 402-foot rocket to right center that cut it to 4-3. The Rangers battled hard but could not catch up. Houston's bullpen shut the door to seal the win and improve to 26-32.