Isaac Paredes’ go-ahead homer lets Astros split series with Rangers

Isaac Paredes’ three-run eighth-inning home run was the difference as the Houston Astros roared from behind to beat the Texas Rangers 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series in Arlington, Texas.
The Astros rallied to earn a split of the series between the Lone Star State rivals, coming alive just in time after struggling against Texas starter Jack Leiter, who had taken a no-hitter into the seventh.
Paredes’ homer off reliever Robert Garcia made a winner out of Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez (3-4), who allowed three runs off six hits over seven innings in a pitchers’ duel with Leiter. Valdez struck out eight and walked one, and Bryan Abreu pitched through a walk and a single in the eighth inning before Josh Hader retired the Rangers in order to earn his 11th save.
Leiter pitched a career-best seven-plus innings — his second straight game going six innings or more — and left in the eighth with a 3-1 lead and runners on first and second. He was charged with three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out four.
Reliever Chris Martin took over in relief and left after throwing one pitch to Jeremy Pena upon feeling discomfort in his right shoulder. It was the second time this week Martin was forced from a game after just one pitch.
Garcia (1-2) entered and got two outs before surrendering Paredes’ home run that just eluded Wyatt Langford as he reached over the fence to try to pull it back.
The Astros broke up Leiter’s no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh when Yainer Diaz ripped a solo home run over the right-center field fence to cut the Texas lead to 3-1.
That set the stage for the Astros’ comeback, which started with singles from Jake Meyers and Cam Smith and was punctuated by the home run by Paredes.
Neither team had a hit until the fourth inning, and that’s when the Rangers touched up Valdez for all their runs. Sam Haggerty opened the frame with an opposite-field single and Langford followed with another single to right field. Josh Jung then pulled a single to left that plated Haggerty.
Langford and Jung pulled off a double steal to get into scoring position. Jonah Heim sent Langford across with a sacrifice fly to right field, and Jake Burger came through with a single to center that drove in Jung and make it 3-0.