Texas Rangers Get 'Big' Win Over Astros

Martín Pérez believes the Texas Rangers can win a "lot of games" with performances like Friday night against the Houston Astros.

It’s just one win in a long, long season, but something felt different about Friday night in Houston.

At least for the Texas Rangers.

“It’s big,” starter Martín Pérez said. “Especially from last year to this year, we have a better team, we’re pitching better, we make plays. And if we do that every night, we’re going to win a lot of games.”

The Rangers claimed the opener 6-2 of the three-game Silver Boot Series by handling the defending champion Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. That stadium has been a house of horrors for Texas over the years.

The Rangers went into the first meeting between the instate rivals just 5-29 at Houston since 2019. Make that 1-0 in 2023.

“It’s always good to get the first win on the road, especially against such a good team like this," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’ve had our battles and he had his way with us quite a few years ... but we’ll be facing each other quite a few times now.”

Bochy was referring to beloved Astros manager Dusty Baker. The two longtime National League managers and World Series winners are in the same division for the first time. Baker owns a 110-82 record against Bochy, which is the most losses to anyone for the first-year Texas skipper.

They also happen to the winningest active managers, with Baker being ninth in MLB history with 2,099 wins. Bochy has 2,011 and recently passed Leo Durocher for 11th.

Baker and the Astros don’t appear to be taking Texas lightly. The AL West-leading Rangers (8-5) have talked openly about returning to playoff contention this season behind a rebuilt pitching staff and Bochy.

“You always know you’ve got to do your homework and be ready because you know that Bruce’s teams are going to be ready,” said Baker, whose team is off to a 6-8 start largely due to injuries. “He’s been a formidable foe for a long time.”

Pérez (2-1) was solid in his third start, allowing five hits and two runs in five-plus innings. He’s gone at least five innings and allowed no more two earned runs in each outing this season.

The only other Rangers starter to do that this season is Jon Gray, who makes his third start Saturday in the second game of the series. Gray (1-1, 3.00 ERA) is opposite fellow right-hander Hunter Brown (1-0, 3.09). First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m.

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

1. Texas Rangers MVP in 2023?
2. Predicting Texas Rangers 2023 Record
3. Jose Altuve Injury Potentially Helps Texas Rangers Playoff Chances
4. MLB Plan for Television Texas Rangers
5. Why did Bochy Tab deGrom for Opening Day?
6. Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games
7. Texas Rangers to Wear Nike City Connect Jerseys for First Time
8. Texas Rangers Unveil Exciting New Ballpark Food
9. Rangers Believe They're as Good as Astros, Dodgers
10. Rangers Rotation Set Behind Jacob deGrom

---

You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and Twitter.