Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien, right, celebrates with third base coach Tony Beasley after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Semien’s 250th career homer highlights Rangers’ 5-1 victory over AL West-leading Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Eovaldi (7-3) limited Houston to five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings for his third straight win.

Houston starter Hunter Brown (9-4) allowed five hits and four runs while striking out eight in five innings as the AL West leaders lost for the fifth time in six games. It was the second straight tough outing for the All-Star, who gave up a season-high six runs in his last start against Cleveland.

Wyatt Langford walked to open the second and the Rangers made it 1-0 when he scored on a triple by Evan Carter. There were two outs in the inning when Carter scored on a ground-rule double by Ezequiel Duran to push the lead to 2-0.

García’s third homer in the last four games put Texas ahead 3-0 with two outs in the third inning.

Texas Rangers’ Adolis García, left, celebrates after hitting a home run off Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown, right, during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Carter doubled to start the fourth and Kyle Higashioka singled before Carter scored on a sacrifice fly by Alejandro Osuna to make it 4-0.

The Astros cut it to 4-1 on a home run by Zack Short with no outs in the sixth inning.

Semien’s shot with one out in the eighth inning was his second of the series and gave him 250 in his 13-year career.

Key moment

Texas jumping on Brown for two runs in the second inning to take the lead for good.

Texas Rangers’ Alejandro Osuna, right, his a RBI scrifice fly as Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini, left, watches during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Key stat

García’s 20 home runs against the Astros since 2021 are the most of any player in that span.

Up next

The Astros open the second half of the season Friday night at Seattle, and the Rangers host Detroit on the same night.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Texas Rangers’ Wyatt Langford, right, scores as Houston Astros catcher Victor Caratini stands in front of home plate during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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