Diaz hits slam, Astros tag Perez, rally past Rangers 7-5

Tue, Aug 9, 2022
MLB News (AP)

HOUSTON (AP) - Aledmys Diaz hit a grand slam as the Houston Astros roughed up Martin Perez and rallied past the Texas Rangers 7-5 Tuesday night.

Perez (9-3) tied a season high by allowing seven runs in five-plus innings to snap a nine-game winning streak, the longest active string in the majors and the best of his career. He had gone 19 straight starts without a loss, with his last one coming on April 17.

The Astros snapped a two-game skid playing without manager Dusty Baker who remained out after testing positive for COVID-19 Thursday. Baker isolated in a Cleveland hotel room all weekend before taking a private jet back to Houston on Monday.

Bench coach Joe Espada is managing the AL West leaders until Baker returns.

Jose Urquidy (11-4) yielded five runs with a season-high three home runs in five innings but got his third straight win thanks to his offense.

Ryan Pressly allowed a double to Bubba Thompson to start the Texas ninth before retiring the next three batters for his 22nd save.

The Rangers led 4-0 early after home runs by Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. The slam by Diaz tied it in the fourth inning.

The Rangers quickly broke the tie on a solo shot by Adolis Garcia with one out in the fifth inning that made it 5-4.

Jose Altuve, who had two hits, doubled home Jake Meyers from first in the bottom half to tie it. Altuve stole third base, and the Astros took their first lead of the game when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Yuli Gurriel that made it 6-5.

Alex Bregman singled in the sixth and moved to second on a balk by Perez. An RBI double by Kyle Tucker extended the lead to 7-5 and chased Perez.

Semien hit a leadoff homer to put the Rangers up 1-0. He drew a walk to start the third before Seager's shot to the bullpen in right center extended the lead to 3-0.

Urquidy plunked Josh Smith with no outs in the fourth and he stole second base. A single by Thompson sent him home to make it 4-0.

Perez sailed through the first three innings before getting into trouble in the fourth because of walks.

Altuve led off with a single and Perez walked Gurriel. After Yordan Alvarez grounded into a double play, Perez issued consecutive walks to Bregman and Tucker to load the bases.

Diaz then hit a changeup over the center field wall for his second grand slam this season to tie it at 4-all.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: Espada said they haven't yet decided the next step for RHP Lance McCullers Jr. after he made his fourth rehabilitation start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. McCullers has been out all season with a strained right forearm. ... Espada said he's been in constant contact with Baker since his positive test and that he's doing well and itching to rejoin the team, but it's unclear when that will be.

UP NEXT

Houston's Justin Verlander, who leads the majors with 15 wins and a 1.73 ERA, opposes Glenn Otto (4-8, 5.31) when the series continues Wednesday night.

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