The Texas Rangers scored seven runs while the Houston Astros scored three runs.

It’s been a long time coming and a long wait for the Rangers to get on a heater at the dish like the one they find themselves on right now. The issues with Texas this season have been well documented. The no show from the bats have kept the Rangers hovering just below .500 with the All-Star break coming next week.

However, after averaging nearly ten runs per game in the series from Anaheim, the Rangers returned to Texas and just kept right on hitting in the opener of this series against AL West-leading Houston.

There were a few notable moments from the hitters in a season most notable for the absence of notable moments from the hitters:

The Rangers worked over starter Lance McCullers before loading the bases out the gate. With one out, Evan Carter was denied an RBI after challenging that he was hit by a McCullers offering. Well, ball don’t lie. Carter singled in two runs and the Rangers had an early lead.
After the Astros scored a run in the bottom of the first, Adolis Garcia cranked a solo home run in the building that has his name on the deed. The run ultimately wasn’t a massive deal but it served as ample amounts of psychic damage.

(here’s video of it in case any Astros fans are lurking)

Following Bombi’s blow, the Rangers added two more in the inning when Jonah Heim doubled in a couple to make it 5-1.
The Astros made the game close with a couple of runs an inning later but the score held at 5-3 until Wyatt Langford sent a ball into the Crawford Boxes for a two-run home run in the seventh that gave Texas a comfortable lead once again.

The Rangers have now scored at least seven runs in five of their last seven games after scoring seven or more in just eleven games prior throughout the first three months of the season. Perhaps the second half of the year still holds some intrigue!

Player of the Game: Langford, who has had an up and down first half, came through tonight with four hits in five at-bats, including the home run that provided a cushion for the bullpen.

Up Next: The Rangers and Astros will continue this series with RHP Jacob deGrom foregoing an All-Star game appearance to pitch in the penultimate game of the first half for Texas opposite LHP Framber Valdez for Houston.

The Saturday evening first pitch from Daikin Park is scheduled for 6:35 pm CT and will be aired nationally on FOX.