Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers Box Score on Sep 26, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 27, 2017

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Houston Astros proved once again Tuesday night why they're the class of the American League West by mowing down the Texas Rangers 14-3 at Globe Life Park.

The Astros (97-60) closed within one game of the Cleveland Indians (98-59) for the best record and home-field advantage in the American League playoffs. Houston did clinch home field in the AL Division Series with its win and Boston's loss.

The Rangers (76-81) lost their fifth in a row and were officially eliminated from wild-card contention. After reaching the postseason the last two years, Texas needs to win its final five games to avoid a losing record.

The penultimate matchup between the Lone Star State rivals was billed a showdown between premier left-handers Dallas Keuchel and Cole Hamels.

That never materialized.

The Astros hit Hamels hard early and knocked him out before he could get an out in the fourth inning. A wildly inconsistent Hamels dropped to 11-5 after allowing six runs, six hits and four walks.

He was 5-0 in five starts against Houston since being traded to Texas. Hamels also hadn't lost to the Astros since 2011 while still with Philadelphia.

Keuchel said leading up to the game that it would be "awesome" to snuff out Texas' playoff hopes. In what was likely his last start of the regular season, Keuchel improved to 14-5 after allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings.

Houston was without American League hit leader Jose Altuve, who was plunked on the forearm by a pitch in the series opener. The All-Star second baseman could return for Wednesday's series finale.

The Astros didn't need their offensive catalyst. Carlos Correa, Brian McCann and Cameron Maybin each drove in three runs. McCann and Maybin also drilled their 16th and 10th home runs, respectively.

Houston finished with 18 hits and all nine starters had at least one. The Astros have outscored the Rangers 25-5 in the first two games of the series.

Delino DeShields and Drew Robinson each had solo homers for Texas. DeShields' was an inside-the-park job in the sixth.

The Astros didn't take long to jump all over Hamels. Four runs and four hits in their first at-bat put Texas in an immediate hole.

Correa had a sharp double into the left-field corner to plate Houston's first two runs. Marwin Gonzalez and McCann also drove in runs that inning.

The Rangers came back with an unearned run in the bottom of the first on Elvis Andrus' RBI single to left.

Houston tacked on a couple of runs in the fourth, spelling the end of the night for Hamels.

The lead ballooned to 11-1 in the fifth after the Astros put another five-spot in the board. McCann had a two-run blast in the inning. Maybin lined a triple to left center and scored on an errant throw back into the infield.

NOTES: The Astros Foundation has partnered with Crane Worldwide, FedEx and the Houston Mayor's Office to transport of more than 240,000 pounds of supplies to aid Puerto Rican relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Maria. ... Texas Rangers officials announced the official groundbreaking Thursday for the franchise's new retractable roof stadium, Globe Life Field, which will be built across the street from Globe Life Park. ... Houston's 96 wins are tied with the 1999 club for the second most in franchise history. ... The Astros lead the season series with Texas 11-7.