The Astros defeated the Rangers 8-5

HOUSTON – Jose Altuve hit Nathan Eovaldi with a home run in his first two at-bats and Cristian Javier pitched seven strong innings to lead the Houston Astros to an 8-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

After losing the series opener 12-8, the Astros have won two straight games after a 4-11 start that had them seven games under .500 for the first time since 2016. Against AL West rivals, they improved to 4-3 Texas this season.

Javier (2-0) allowed five hits and two runs with five strikeouts, giving Houston a second straight solid pitching performance after its starters had dismal performances in the last three games.

Marcus Semien hit a three-run home run off Seth Martinez with two outs in the ninth to cut the lead to 8-5. Josh Hader struck out Corey Seager to end it all.

It was the 11th multi-homer game of his career for Altuve, and his seven career homers against Eovaldi are his most against a pitcher.

Altuve sent Eovaldi's third pitch from the foul pole in left field for his 36th career leadoff home run, which ranks third in franchise history.

There was an out in the third when Altuve scored again, sending a fastball into the left seats to make it 2-0. Eovaldi slumped his shoulders and shouted something as the ball sailed away. Altuve grinned as he rounded the bases, flexing both biceps as he reached the end of the dugout.

Altuve also hit a three-hit single in his second straight game. He reached base safely in all 17 games to start the season.

Eovaldi (1-1) had eight hits and five runs in six innings.

Evan Carter hit a solo home run and Semien added an RBI double for the World Series champion Rangers, who have lost three of four.

Carter scored his team's first hit with his home run to right-center with one out in the fourth, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Chas McCormick and Jeremy Peña led off Houston's fourth with a single before an RBI double by Victor Caratini made it 3-1. There were two outs in the inning when a double by Mauricio Dubón scored two more, extending the lead to 5-1.

Leody Taveras doubled with one out in the fifth before scoring on Semien's double to make Texas 5-2.

McCormick drove in two runs with a three-run double in Houston's seventh that increased the lead to 8-2.

Trainer's room

Rangers: Placed LHP Cody Bradford on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Thursday because of a lower back strain. RHP Cole Winn was called up from Triple-A Round Rock.

Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (right shoulder inflammation) allowed seven hits and six runs — five earned — in four innings of a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday night. Houston manager Joe Espada said the team will wait Monday to see how Verlander feels before deciding the next step for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. … LHP Framber Valdez (left elbow inflammation) said he is feeling much better and plans to start catching on Tuesday.

Next

Rangers: Had not yet announced a starting player for Monday night's opener of a four-game series in Detroit.

Astros: RHP Spencer Arrighetti (0-1, 21.00 ERA) will make his second major league start on Monday night in the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Atlanta Braves.