It was an unusually down day for the Houston Astros on Sunday, which included them sending All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve to the disabled list for the first time in his career. It ended with the last-place Texas Rangers handing them their first series sweep of the season with a 4-3 victory at Minute Maid Park. Jurickson Profar had the official go-ahead RBI double during a three-run sixth inning, and even stayed in the game after taking a kick to the face during a slide.
Profar's go-ahead double was tipped by the pitcher, which painted the Astros' recent luck during their season-high four-game losing streak. The Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels, 8-5, at Angel Stadium on Sunday, cutting the Astros' AL West lead to four games. The Oakland Athletics are also within striking distance, just six games back, despite falling to the Colorado Rockies, 3-2, on Sunday.
The loss for the Astros comes despite them setting a franchise record with a combined 19 strikeouts on the afternoon, but starter Lance McCullers Jr. fell to 10-6 on the season. He struck out 11 batters over 5.1 innings without recording a walk. Although, he allowed four runs on six hits to suffer his third straight loss.
Mike Minor earned his seventh win for the Rangers after going six innings and holding the Astros to two runs on four hits while striking out six batters. He did surrender a solo shot to Tyler White in the second innings, but still hung on to earn his first victory since June 27th.
The one up-side for the Astros is that their division lead is now in their own hands beginning on Monday night. They will visit the second-place Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field for at three-game series. The Rangers move on to visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for an interleague series beginning that same night.
Profar's go-ahead double was tipped by the pitcher, which painted the Astros' recent luck during their season-high four-game losing streak. The Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels, 8-5, at Angel Stadium on Sunday, cutting the Astros' AL West lead to four games. The Oakland Athletics are also within striking distance, just six games back, despite falling to the Colorado Rockies, 3-2, on Sunday.
The loss for the Astros comes despite them setting a franchise record with a combined 19 strikeouts on the afternoon, but starter Lance McCullers Jr. fell to 10-6 on the season. He struck out 11 batters over 5.1 innings without recording a walk. Although, he allowed four runs on six hits to suffer his third straight loss.
Mike Minor earned his seventh win for the Rangers after going six innings and holding the Astros to two runs on four hits while striking out six batters. He did surrender a solo shot to Tyler White in the second innings, but still hung on to earn his first victory since June 27th.
The one up-side for the Astros is that their division lead is now in their own hands beginning on Monday night. They will visit the second-place Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field for at three-game series. The Rangers move on to visit the Arizona Diamondbacks for an interleague series beginning that same night.
