José Urquidy starts for the Astros and Andrew Heaney for the Rangers.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Houston tries to even the AL Championship Series 2-2 when it plays at Texas on Thursday night. José Urquidy starts for the Astros and Andrew Heaney for the Rangers.
The roof will be open for Game 4, which will be the first home game for the Texas Rangers in nearly five months without it closed. The Rangers started 11 games with the roof open during the regular season and were 7-4. Temperatures for Game 4 were forecast to be in the upper 70s with clear skies expected at first pitch.
When neutral-site postseason games were played at Globe Life Field during the 2020 season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the roof was open for 13 of 16 of those games.
Cristian Javier held Texas to two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-5 Game 3 win on Wednesday night. The Rangers lost for the first time this postseason after a 7-0 start.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer was gone after four innings in his first outing in more than a month after recovering from a strained shoulder muscle.
The Astros are 40-45 at home this year, losing three of four in the playoffs. But they have won 17 of their last 20 road games, including both at Minnesota in the AL Division Series.
“It’s the strangest thing I’ve ever seen because usually you want to be .500 on the road and way over .500 at home,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “I asked the team in spring training to be the best road team. Maybe I should have asked them to be the best road and home team. They usually give me what I ask for.”
Lineups
Highlights and updates will be posted below.
First inning
Houston 3, Texas 0
Jose Altuve led off the game with a double. Mauricio Dubon dumped a single into center, bringing up Alex Bregman, who tripled to right-center, scoring two runs.
Yordan Alvarez singled to center, scoring Bregman.
Jose Abreu grounded out for the first out of the inning. Kyle Tucker grounded out to the pitcher for the second out. Chas McCormick walked, signaling the end of Heaney’s night. The Rangers brought in Dane Dunning to face Jeremy Pena, who reached on an infield single to load the bases. Martin Maldonado struck out swinging to end the inning.
Marcus Semien lined out, Corey Seager flew out and Evan Carter popped out to end the inning.
Second inning
Houston 3, Texas 2
Altuve singled through the right side of the infield to start the Astros’ half of the inning. Dubon struck out swinging for the first out. Bregman walked and Alvarez grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Abreu grounded out to end the inning.
Adolis Garcia homered to left to start the home half of the second inning.
Mitch Garver walked and Jonah Heim flew out to center for the first out of the frame. Nathaniel Lowe doubled to left, moving Garver to third. Josh Jung hit a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. Leody Taveras went down swinging to end the frame.
Third inning
Houston 3, Texas 3
Tucker and McCormick grounded out and Pena went down looking to end the Astros’ half of the third.
Semien fouled out and then Seager homered to center to tie the game.
Carter reached on a bloop single and Garcia singled through the left side of the infield. That marked the end of Urquidy’s night. The Astros put in Ryne Stanek to face Garver, who grounded into a double play on the first pitch from the reliever.
Fourth inning
Houston 7, Texas 3
Maldonado worked a walk to turn the lineup over. Altuve also walked, bringing up Dubon, who delivered a single to load the bases. Bregman struck out swinging. The Rangers pulled Dunning in favor of Cody Bradford to face Alvarez, who delivered a sacrifice fly to give the Astros the lead back.
Abreu then delivered a three-run homer.
Tucker flew out to center to end the inning.
Hunter Brown relieved Stanek and worked a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts.
Fifth inning
Houston 7, Texas 3
Chris Stratton relieved Bradford and got McCormick to line out to left. Pena struck out looking and Maldonado went down swinging to end the frame.
Game recaps
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