Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña each homered as the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep at Minute Maid Park and reclaiming first place in the American League West.
With the win, Houston (84-69) moved a half-game ahead of Seattle (83-69) after the Mariners fell 7-5 to the Kansas City Royals. The Astros also widened their lead over third-place Texas (79-74) to five games and clinched the 13-game season series against their in-state rivals. The Mariners now head to Houston for a pivotal three-game series starting Friday.
Houston jumped on Rangers starter Jacob deGrom (12-8) early. Peña doubled to lead off the first, Carlos Correa added an infield single, and Victor Caratini drew a two-out walk before Yainer Díaz drove in two runs with a single.
After Texas tied it in the second, Altuve put the Astros back on top with his 26th home run of the season — a 372-foot shot to left in the third inning. Peña extended the lead in the fifth with his 16th homer, an opposite-field blast to right.
deGrom lasted five innings, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six.
Astros starter Cristian Javier (2-3) steadied himself after a shaky second inning, working six frames of two-run ball on five hits and a walk while striking out four. He retired nine straight Rangers after giving up a two-out single in the third and ended his outing on a highlight — Peña making a leaping throw from shortstop that Christian Walker scooped at first to retire Adolis García.
Bryan King recorded the final four outs to earn his second save of the season.
