García slam for Rangers in 13-2 win to avoid sweep by Astros

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García hit the first grand slam by a Texas batter in almost two years and DJ Peters had a massive homer while driving in three runs as the rebuilding Rangers avoided being swept by Houston again, beating the AL West-leading Astros 13-2 in the series finale Sunday.

García's 29th homer came during an eight-run outburst in the fifth, the highest-scoring inning for the last-place Rangers this season. Peters led it off with a towering 450-foot drive to straightaway center field that made it 6-2 and chased Houston starter Zack Greinke (11-5).

Taylor Hearn (4-4) pitched a career-high 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks to win his second consecutive start. The big left-hander allowed two runs and six hits.

Hearn retired the first 12 batters he faced before Yordan Álvarez opened the fifth with his 28th homer, a shot pulled to right that ricocheted high off the foul pole. It was the sixth homer in nine games for Álvarez.

The Astros (77-53) had their four-game winning streak snapped with their most lopsided loss of the season.

They were trying to sweep Texas for the fourth time in five series this year. The Rangers won all three games at home in May, twice on García walk-off hits in the 10th inning, but lost the first two games this weekend.

Texas (45-85) won for only the 10th time in 40 games since the All-Star break, snapping a four-game losing streak. The Rangers had lost their last five home games.

Peters had an RBI double that capped a three-run first that put the Rangers ahead to stay. They opened the game with three consecutive singles, the last by García to drive in the first run. Peters added another sac fly in the third, when Jake Meyers made an impressive catch going to his knees on the warning track in deep left center.

García, an All-Star...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Garc-a-slam-for-Rangers-in-13-2-win-to-avoid-16420156.php