Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros Box Score on May 04, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 4, 2017

HOUSTON -- Joey Gallo crushed a two-run home run in the eighth inning to stem the Houston Astros' tide and help the Texas Rangers salvage the finale of this four-game series with a 10-4 victory on Thursday at Minute Maid Park.

Gallo followed a leadoff double from Carlos Gomez with his ninth homer, launching the first pitch from Astros right-hander Luke Gregerson to the back wall of the home bullpen in right-center field for an 8-4 lead.

Gregerson later allowed an RBI single to Delino DeShields as Texas (12-17) reclaimed the momentum the Astros built with their methodical push to within two runs through the seventh.

Astros right-hander Joe Musgrove (1-3) surrendered four runs in the first inning and a sacrifice fly to Nomar Mazara in the second that built the Texas lead to 5-1. But Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez belted his fourth home run of the series leading off the fourth inning to slice the deficit to three runs.

Houston loaded the bases with less than two outs in the sixth and seventh innings to fuel the rally.

What Houston failed to manage was a big hit in those situations, scoring a run apiece in each frame. Second baseman Jose Altuve hit into a double play against Rangers reliever Jeremy Jeffress to squash the momentum in the sixth inning. Carlos Beltran, whose pinch sacrifice fly accounted for the run in the sixth, struck out with the bases loaded against Keone Kela to end the threat in the seventh.

Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin (3-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over five innings. And while four Texas relievers made things strenuous before Gallo provided some needed insurance, Griffin remained unbeaten in eight career starts against the Astros (19-10).

Rougned Odor smashed his fifth home run two batters into the first inning, and Gallo followed four batters after that with an RBI single that scored Mazara. Mike Napoli added a two-run double off Musgrove to boost the Rangers' lead to 4-0.

The Astros finished 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 16.

NOTES: In advance of his start, Rangers RHP A.J. Griffin was activated from the 10-day disabled list. Griffin was placed on the DL on April 21, retroactive for April 18, with gout in his left ankle. Texas optioned RHP Anthony Bass to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for Griffin. Bass allowed three runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings on Wednesday night after being recalled to replaced LHP Cole Hamels. ... With his two-run homer in the sixth inning on Wednesday night, Astros INF/OF Marwin Gonzalez became the first player in the modern era to homer in four consecutive starts while playing a different position each time (second base, third base, left field, first base). ... Texas has not been swept in a four-game series since July 10-13, 2014 against the Baltimore Orioles.