Watch: Kyle Tucker Grand Slam Knocks Out Martin Perez, Astros Up Big at Texas Rangers

The Houston Astros hit three home runs in the second inning to chase Texas Rangers starter Martin Perez.

© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas – Texas Rangers starter Martín Pérez didn’t last long in Monday afternoon’s series finale with the Houston Astros.

The lefty gave up three home runs in the second inning, including a grand slam by Kyle Tucker for a 6-0 Houston lead. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy pulled Perez after 57 pitches yielded just four outs, six hits, and two walks.

The shortest outing of the season for Pérez (1 1/3 innings) saw his ERA balloon to 4.81 after entering the game at 4.28. In his 17 previous starts, Pérez failed to go at least five innings just three times. His shortest start had been 3 1/3 innings on June 11 at the Tamp Bay Rays.

The Astros opened the second inning with back-to-back home runs from Chas McCormick and Yainer Diaz. Corey Julks and Martin Maldonado, the last two hitters in the Astros order, singled and walked, respectively, before Jose Altuve flew out to center.

That was the only out Pérez got in the inning.

Mauricio Dubon, robbed of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch against the right-field wall by Adolis García in the first, singled to load the bases. Tucker and Pérez engaged in a nine-pitch duel before the right fielder took a 90-mph sinker 433 feet to right-center.

It was the fourth career grand slam for Tucker and the MLB-leading eighth for the Astros this season.

Everything is bigger in Texas. pic.twitter.com/ZdtLFUbvB3

— Houston Astros (@astros) July 3, 2023

That was it for Pérez.

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