After a disappointing lopsided loss on Tuesday to even the series, the Astros tried to get back in position to take the series with a win on Wednesday. They would get it, thanks to a great start by Jose Urquidy and plenty of run support behind him.

Final Score: Astros 7, Rangers 2

Astros' Record: 85-60, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Jose Urquidy (7-3)

Losing Pitcher: Kohei Arihara (2-4)

Houston goes back-to-back in the second

After a scoreless first inning on both sides, Houston would strike first to start the scoring in the top of the second. A one-out single by Kyle Tucker set up the first two runs of the game, a two-run homer by Jake Meyers to make it 2-0. Marwin Gonzalez was next, and he made it back-to-back homers with a solo shot in the next at-bat, extending the lead to 3-0 with his second homer since re-joining the Astros.

Urquidy tosses an impressive quality start

The three-run inning put Houston's starter, Jose Urquidy, in a good position. After a walk to start the game, he settled in, retiring the next six batters he faced. The Rangers got on the board in the bottom of the third, getting a leadoff triple on a nearly scary play by Kyle Tucker that collided with the right-field wall tracking a long fly ball, which would ultimately fall in for the hit. Houston ceded a run on a groundball, making it 3-1 as Urquidy would get the next three batters in order to end the frame.

His offense backed him up with more runs in the next two innings, getting back-to-back hits to start the fourth, setting up a two-RBI single by Chas McCormick later in the inning, then in the fifth, Yordan Alvarez made it a five-run game with an RBI double. Urquidy remained efficient the rest of the way, allowing just one hit while retiring eleven of the final twelve batters he faced. His final line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 81 P.

Astros get the win

Ryne Stanek took over in the bottom of the seventh, working around a leadoff single to keep the lead at 6-1. Kyle Tucker got his third hit of the night in the next inning, this one a solo homer to add another insurance run and make it 7-1.
Kendall Graveman pitched the eighth, a 1-2-3 inning, and then Josh James came in to finish things in the ninth. He allowed a run, but it would matter little as the Astros would get their 85th win of the season, giving them a chance to get the series win on Thursday.

Up Next: The final game of this four-game series and the last matchup between these two teams this season will be another 7:05 PM Central start on Thursday. Glenn Otto (0-1, 6.92 ERA) will make his fourth career start for the Rangers, going opposite Framber Valdez (10-5, 3.26 ERA) for the Astros.