ARLINGTON, Texas, USA. —
Josh Smith hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift the Texas Rangers to a 4-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night in the first game of the season-ending series between the AL West rivals and the last two World Series champions.
Smith lined a 410-foot line drive to right-center off a 94 mph fastball from Caleb Ferguson (2-3) with two outs.
That made All-Star closer Kirby Yates (4-1) the winner, who hit two consecutive batters with his pitches in the top of the inning, the first on a disputed play, to force in the go-ahead run.
Texas had intentionally walked slugger Yordan Alvarez with one out before Yainer Diaz tried his swing and claimed he was hit on the hand. The Rangers challenged the call when plate umpire Will Little awarded him the walk, but the call stood on replay. Yates then hit Jeremy Pena to force in a run.
Both starters, Houston’s Hunter Brown and Texas’ Andrew Heaney, struck out four while allowing one run in six innings.
For the Astros, Dominican Jeremy Peña went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Venezuelan José Altuve went 1-for-4 with two runs scored.
For the Rangers, Cuban Adolis Garcia went 1-for-4 with one run scored. Dominican Leody Taveras went 0-for-2 with one RBI.
