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Astros finally solve Rangers in extras

Apr 13, 2014 - 5:44 AM Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Jose Altuve plated the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and the Houston Astros ended a 12-game losing streak against the Texas Rangers with a 6-5 triumph on Saturday to even this three-game set from Globe Life Park.

Jason Castro tripled with one out in the top of the 10th off Joakim Soria (1-1) and was pinch-ran for at third by Marwin Gonzalez. Altuve took a 1-1 fastball to deep right field, allowing Gonzalez to trot home without a throw.

Anthony Bass put two on with one out in the bottom of the frame, but Kevin Kouzmanoff struck out and Michael Choice grounded out to first to end it and give Bass his second save of the season.

Choice went deep off Kevin Chapman (1-0) in the bottom of the ninth to force extras.

"It's a big win, just the mere fact that they came back and tied it up," said Astros manager Bo Porter. "For us to come back and respond the way we responded, to take the lead and then go out and get those last three outs I thought was huge."

Castro walked to start Houston's five-run fourth inning off Texas starter Tanner Scheppers. Altuve and Chris Carter followed with singles to load the bags for Carlos Corporan, whose sacrifice fly plated Castro. Matt Dominguez then singled in a run and Robbie Grossman homered to give the Astros a 5-2 lead.

"I made a couple bad pitches and they took advantage of it," Scheppers said. "I need to stay away from the big innings."

Texas got a run back in the home half when Donnie Murphy scored on J.P. Arencibia's double-play groundout.

The 5-3 lead held until the eighth, when Alex Rios doubled in a run off Matt Albers, who had replaced Astros starter Jarred Cosart. Cosart went seven strong innings, allowing just three runs on six hits while fanning eight.

Chapman took the mound in the ninth and surrendered the lead right away, as the pinch-hitting Choice took him deep to right.

Earlier, Kouzmanoff put the Rangers on the board with an RBI single to left in the first inning. It was 2-0 when Arencibia grounded to short, allowing Murphy to score.

Game Notes

Scheppers pitched seven innings, yielding five runs on four hits with six strikeouts ... Murphy and Elvis Andrus each scored twice for Texas ... Rangers leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts ... Texas hit just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.