Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning Monday to beat the Astros 5-3 and move the Rangers to just a half-game behind Houston in the AL West.
The Rangers trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth inning but scored two runs in the bottom of the frame to re-take the lead. Houston added a run in the seventh to tie the game, but Fielder put his team ahead for good with the towering shot in the eighth.
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"I knew I hit it good, but here you never know," Fielder said, via MLB.com. "The wind plays tricks on you sometimes. I knew I had hit it hard enough, but the way [Marisnick] was going back on it, I didn't know if he was going to rob it or not."
Fielder finished the game 2 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs and is batting .309 on the season. Fielder is a prime contender for Comeback Player of the Year after missing most of last season with a neck injury.
Entering July 29, the Rangers were 47-52 and eight games behind in the AL West. Now, they are pressing the Astros to their breaking point as they look to vault into first place.
Meanwhile, the Yankees broke up Rays starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez's no-hit bid in the eighth inning, and ultimately won the game thanks to a three-run shot in the ninth inning by Slade Heathcott. The Yankees are three games back in the AL East after the Blue Jays enjoyed their day off at the Falcons-Eagles game.
Star performers
American League
Indians outfielders Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley combined for six hits, two runs scored and three RBIs in an 8-3 win against the Royals. Carlos Carrasco tossed six innings of one-run baseball with nine strikeouts.
National League
Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth led the Nationals to an 8-7 win against the Phillies in 11 innings. Rendon went 4 for 6 with a solo home run, and Werth had two home runs and five RBIs.
Plays of the day
Yoenis Cespedes bashed his 35th home run of the season, tying Chris Davis for the most since Aug. 1, with 17.
Jose Altuve's home run against the Rangers:
Prince Fielder's monstrous home run:
A look ahead
(All times Eastern)
Cubs (82-60) at Pirates (86-56) (doubleheader); 1:35, 7:05 p.m.: The Pirates are just 2 1/2 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central, but they will have to get past the surging Cubs to gain more ground. This doubleheader will be must-watch television between two scrappy clubs that are playing excellent baseball. The Pirates will have ace Gerrit Cole (16-8, 2.54 ERA) on the mound in Game 1, and Jon Lester (9-10, 3.50 ERA) will pitch for the Cubs in Game 2.
Astros (77-67) at Rangers (76-67) 8:05 p.m.: Houston is in dire need of a win as their lead in the AL West is almost gone. They'll send Collin McHugh (16-7 3.89 ERA) out to face Derek Holland (3-2, 3.13 ERA) and the Rangers.
Reactions
"That was a big win," Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland said, via MLB.com. "The team in front of us, first game of a series, to get the momentum going in our favor, that was a good first one."
"Our team is ready to play," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said, via MLB.com. "We're fine. We're playing really close games. We've got a couple of losses this week. We're not spooked. We're a major league baseball team, and we'll show up tomorrow ready to play."