Semien homers, Lowe singles in 10th to give Rangers 2-1 win over Astros

HOUSTON — Marcus Semien’s leadoff home run and Nathaniel Lowe’s two-out single in the 10th inning lifted the Texas Rangers to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday.

The Rangers snapped a two-game losing streak and Houston’s 10-game home winning streak.

A groundout by Adolis García allowed automatic runner Josh Smith to advance to third base with two outs in the 10th. Lowe then singled off Tayler Scott (6-3) to left field to send Smith home and give the Rangers the lead.

The Rangers loaded the bases in the seventh and eighth innings, but came away empty-handed in each inning on a day they went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

“It’s just one of those things we didn’t really execute today until we executed it at the end,” Lowe said.

The Rangers intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning before Kirby Yates struck out Yainer Diaz to end the game and earn his 15th save.

“It was an intense game, there was no avoiding it,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Both teams had to make a lot of shots with the score on the line and they did.”

Joey Loperfido singled with two outs in the ninth inning, but David Robertson (3-3) retired Mauricio Dubón on a grounder to end the inning. The Astros challenged the call, but it was upheld to send the ball into the 10th inning.

This infuriated Dubón, who was ejected and had to be pulled away from home plate umpire Nestor Ceja.

“I was safe,” said Dubón, who was sent off for the first time in his career.

Houston manager Joe Espada was proud of the courage his team showed Saturday.

“We kept fighting until the end,” he said. “We just couldn’t get the big shot.”

Semien sent Spencer Arrighetti’s first pitch to left-center field for his season-leading fifth home run.

Alex Bregman and Alvarez hit back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the inning before Diaz singled for Bregman to tie the game at 1-1. Jon Singleton singled to load the bases before Jeremy Peña reached on catcher’s interference to seemingly send home another run.

But the Rangers challenged the call, which was overturned and Peña was fouled out.

Corey Seager hit a one-out single in the sixth before Arrighetti hit Smith with a pitch. There were two outs in the inning when García walked to load the bases. Lowe then hit a grounder to Singleton at first and threw to Arrighetti, who was covering first base.

Lowe was initially ruled safe and two runs were scored on the play. Houston challenged the call and it was overturned to end the inning and leave the game tied.

Arrighetti allowed just one hit after Semien’s home run and walked three with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run on eight singles with seven strikeouts and no walks in seven innings.

“Nate, I mean, in the first inning, he had the bases loaded, one out,” Bochy said. “He continues to amaze me. He has such poise on the field and has that ability … to step up when he needs to and what a great job he did.”

TRAINERS’ ROOM

Rangers: 3B Josh Jung (fractured right wrist) took swings in the cage Saturday and Bochy said he likely will begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break. … Right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning (stiff right shoulder) will make a rehab start for Double-A Frisco on Sunday where he is expected to throw about 35 pitches. Dunning took live batting practice Wednesday.

Astros: Espada said relief pitcher Justin Verlander (neck tightness) is expected to throw a light workout Sunday. Verlander, 41, who has been out since June 9, is expected to throw 10 to 15 pitches.

FOLLOWING

Texas right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer (1-2, 3.09 ERA) faces right-handed pitcher Ronel Blanco (9-3, 2.53) in the series finale Sunday.