ARLINGTON, Texas – Carlos Correa unleashed a seven-touchdown offense with a three-run homer in the fourth inning, and the Houston Astros crushed the Texas Rangers 12-1 Thursday.
Venezuelan Luis García, who had to replace the scheduled starter for this match, kept the shutout until the sixth inning.
The Astros, leaders in the AL West, held a seven-game lead over Oakland with 16 games remaining. Houston won three of four games in its last series against the Rangers, who are in last place.
Now, he will play three games at home against Arizona, which has the worst record in the National League.
Alex Bregman hit the first of his two two-run singles in Houston’s grand fourth inning.
Cuban Yordan Alvarez hit an RBI double that right fielder DJ Peters couldn’t reach despite jumping. Also Cuban Yuli Gurriel drove in Bregman with his second single.
Garcia (11-7) was the starter in place of Dominican left-hander Framber Valdez, who suffered a cut on the index finger of his pitching hand on Wednesday when he placed it on a wall during batting practice in which he has been home of the Rangers for a year.
Correa hit his 23rd home run – the first to hit Glenn Otto (0-2) in the majors – after a single by Gurriel early in the fourth and a double-double by Kyle Tucker.
For the Astros, Venezuelan José Altuve 3-1, two scored. Cubans Aldemys Díaz 2-1; Yordan Álvarez 5-1, one RBI, and Yuli Gurriel 6-2, two runs, one RBI. Puerto Ricans Carlos Correa 4-2, two runs scored, three RBIs, and Martín Maldonado 1-0, two runs scored. Dominican José Siri 5-2.
For the Rangers, Leody Taveras 4-1. Venezuelans Yohel Pozo 4-1 and Yonny Hernández 2-0.
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