Rangers Secure Walk-Off Victory Over Astros to Enter All-Star Break With Winning Record

In the bottom of the ninth inning in Arlington, Texas, Brandon Nimmo delivered a walk-off single that drove in Wyatt Langford for a 6-5 win over the Houston Astros. Langford reached base on a leadoff single by Josh Hader that was misplayed as an error by Zach Dezenzo, advanced on a Josh Jung single, and scored when Nimmo’s one-hopper glanced off Hader’s raised glove and landed in center field. It marked Nimmo’s first walk-off plate appearance for Texas and his seventh in the major leagues.

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Texas starter MacKenzie Gore limited Houston to one run and two hits over four innings on three days’ rest. Jacob Latz earned the save after intentionally walking Yordan Alvarez with two outs and retiring Isaac Paredes on a pop-out. For the Astros, Cam Smith hit an eighth-inning homer to give Houston a 5-4 lead, while Kyle Higashioka answered with a solo shot in the bottom half. Jose Altuve homered in the fourth for Houston, and Jeremy Peña’s sacrifice fly and Paredes’ two-run single tied the game in the seventh.

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The victory moved the Rangers to a 49-47 record, placing them 1½ games ahead of the Seattle Mariners (48-49) and three games ahead of the Astros (47-51) in the AL West as the league heads into the All-Star break. Texas has now won eight of its last ten series rubber games and recorded its fourth walk-off win of the season.

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Astros center fielder Brice Matthews left the game after injuring his left knee while attempting a catch in the first inning. Houston pitcher Cristian Javier, making his first start since a right-shoulder strain on April 8, allowed three runs, four hits and three walks over three innings. Rangers pitcher Jacob de Grom was scratched from the start because of a mild left glute strain.

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Following the win, the Astros will host the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, while the Rangers open a series in Atlanta the same day.

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