Silver Booted! Houston Astros Take Season Series From Texas Rangers In Convincing Fashion

The Houston Astros built a 5-0 lead behind another dominant pitching performance and took the season series with Wednesday's win at Globe Life Field.

Aug 7, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) advances to second base as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) cannot field the throw during the second inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON — It's far from official, but there was an air of finality to the Texas Rangers' loss Wednesday afternoon at Globe Life Field.

The Houston Astros took the three-game series and the season series with a 6-4 punch in the mouth.

The Astros, who built a 5-0 lead, clinched the season series with Wednesday's win, taking seven of the 13 games, including two of the final three at Globe Life Field. This gives Houston a tiebreaker edge in the event the clubs finish with the same record at the end of the regular season. The same scenario played out in 2023 and the Astros earned the AL West division title based on their head-to-head edge.

The Astros have won the Silver Boot series every season since 2017 (except the COVID-shortened 2020 season in which the teams went 5-5). The Rangers last won the series in 2016.

The Rangers dropped to 5.5 games back of the Astros and first-place Seattle Mariners (59-55), who host the Detroit Tigers tonight.

The Astros built a 5-0 lead with a three-run sixth. The Rangers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning, including a leadoff homer from Marcus Semien.

Three thoughts from Wednesday's game:

1. Rangers: 54-61

Aug 7, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros first baseman Zach Dezenzo (9) celebrates after he hits a double against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers are seven games below .500 for the first time since July 6 and have lost nine of their past 12 since winning five consecutive games on July 25. They have 47 games remaining to overcome the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros in the AL West. The Mariners currently have a half-game lead on the Astros and 5.5-game lead on the Rangers atop the division. The Rangers have seven games against the Mariners remaining, including Sept. 12-15 in Seattle, and Sept. 20-22 in Arlington.

2. José Ureña Does Enough

May 12, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher José Ureña (54) leaves the mound in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockiesat Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

José Ureña made his eighth start and second in the past week. This one went much better than the last, in which he was burned for seven runs on eight hits in four innings. On Wednesday, he held the Astros to two runs on six hits and three walks over four innings and left trailing 2-0.

3. Up Next

Aug 3, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (61) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers visit the White House at 3 p.m. Thursday to celebrate their 2023 World Series championship. The ceremony with President Biden is supposed to air live on C-SPAN. The club starts a three-game set against the Yankees in the Bronx at 6:05 p.m. Friday. Left-hander Cody Bradford (3-0, 3.96) faces a Yankees starter to be announced.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.

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