Rangers Walk-Off in Style over Astros

Texas Rangers left fielder Carl Chester rocketed a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning for an 8-5 victory over the Houston Astros in an Alternate Training Site (ATS) exhibition game. 

The Rangers jumped to an early 5-0 lead.  Curtis Terry connected for a home run with Diosbel Arias on-base in the second inning.  Arias had doubled in his first ATS at-bat.  Yonny Hernandez extended that lead with a bases-loaded double in the fourth inning, scoring three runs. 

The Astros began to work their way back into the game in the fifth inning with a solo home run by Bryan De La Cruz.  In the next inning, a walk to Jake Meyers and base hits to Jose Siri, C.J. Hinojosa and De La Cruz brough the Astros to within one-run of the Rangers.  The Astros evened the ball game in the seventh inning with a Grae Kessinger sacrifice fly to score Lorenzo Quintana. 

Chester’s home run in the bottom of the ninth inning came after back-to-back singles by Terry and John Hicks. 

Collin Wiles earned the victory for the Rangers, pitching three solid innings of relief, allowing only 2 hits, striking-out 3 and walking 1.  Astros relief pitcher Ronel Blanco endured the loss, allowing 3 runs on 3 hits in one-third of an inning. 

For the Rangers, Arias went 3-for-5, while Terry, Chester, Charles Leblanc and Elier Hernandez each had 2 hits.  Siri, Hinojosa, De La Curz and Quintana each added hits for the Astros.