ARLINGTON, Texas, USA – Jose Abreu hit a grand slam and a three-run homer as the Houston Astros hit five homers in a 12-3 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
The Astros completed a sweep of Texas in the deciding three-game series between the American League West rivals.
Cuban Abreu’s big slam in the third inning was Houston’s third home run off Max Scherzer.
Justin Verlander (11-7), another three-time Cy Young Award-winning outfielder, composed himself after allowing a home run in his first pitch. It was the only earned run he allowed through seven innings.
Houston struck out 16 homers in the series — the most ever in three games — and outscored the Rangers 39-10 in its final set of games this regular season.
Cubans Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley also hit home runs off Scherzer and Houston hit two more homers off reliever Brock Burke.
The Astros (80-61), the defending World Series champions, remain the sole leader of the American League Western Conference, one game behind Seattle.
For the Astros, Venezuelan Jose Altuve is 0-4. Dominican Jeremy Peña is 2-for-6 with two runs. Cubans, Alvarez 3-1 with two runs scored and two RBIs, Abreu 5-3 with two runs scored and seven RBIs. Honduran Mauricio Dupont 5-1. Puerto Rican Martin Maldonado 4-1.
Rangers: Cuban Adulis Garcia 1-0. Dominican Republic Leodi Taveras 2-0.