Astros skipper A.J. Hinch and Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder also jawed at each other but nobody was ejected.
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Rougned Odor homered early, then got into a testy exchange at home plate in the ninth inning that escalated into a shouting match between the managers as the Rangers beat the Astros 7-6.
RANGERS EIGHTH: Hamilton led off with his first homer since May 29.
The bottom of the order combined to help Texas double their lead in the sixth. It was the first of four straight singles by Texas in the inning, but Josh Hamilton grounded out after that to allow McHugh to escape the jam. After taking a curve in the dirt, Odor crushed a 1-2 changeup deep into the right-field seats for a two-run home run.
Rookie Carlos Correa prevented the shut out as he hit a solo home run off Colby Lewis in the seventh for the Astros first run. Feldman endured his worst outing of the season on May 5 against Texas, surrendering six runs over three innings to fall to 3-3, 3.88 all-time versus the Rangers. Lewis allowed a single to Jon Singleton and was replaced by Tanner Scheppers. Gonzalez would advance to second on the throw home.
The Astros were up by one with no outs in the third when Jake Marisnick and Altuve hit back-to-back doubles to push Houston’s lead to 2-0.
The gloves: In the eighth, SS Elvis Andrus whiffed on a grounder by Evan Gattis, allowing a run to score. Benches cleared, but in the end it was Rangers who came out on top.
When the dust had settled, Odor laced a leadoff triple to center field and scored when third baseman Adrian Beltre followed with a one-out single. The Astros improved to 21-7 over their last 28 contests at Minute Maid Park, breaking an 0-for-20 slump with runners in scoring position over the last four games with a 4-for-11 effort.
(AP Photo/Pat Sullivan). Houston Astros’ Colby Rasmus sits in the dugout during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Saturday, July 18, 2015, in Houston.
With the exception of the home run to Correa, it was a solid start for start for Lewis who allowed only two runs on four hits in seven innings pitched. He now has ten wins, only one shy of his career best which was in 2014, his first year in both the AL and in the Houston Astros’ organization.
Another player who snapped out of a funk was Choo, who was aggressive in the outfield and solid at the plate.
The legs: In the fourth, RF Shin-Soo Choo reached second on his first stolen base of the season.
With performances from the whole team and a passion that hasn’t been seen in weeks, the Rangers will look to keep rolling as the second half of the season continues.
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Rangers: Right-hander Yovani Gallardo pitches for the Rangers against the Astros at 1:10 p.m. Connecticut on Sunday at Minute Maid Park.
