Castro's Slam Sends McHugh, Astros Over Rangers

Jason Castro hit a grand slam, Collin McHugh threw seven solid innings and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 4-2 Thursday night.

McHugh (7-9) earned his third straight win, allowing two runs and eight hits while striking out six.

In his six August starts, McHugh gave up eight runs over 37 2-3 innings.

Castro snapped an 0-for-20 slump with a single in the second. In the fifth, he wiped out Texas' 2-0 lead.

Jose Altuve singled in the Houston fifth and Chris Carter walked, finishing starter Nick Tepesch.

Dexter Fowler reached on an infield single to set up Castro's second career grand slam, a drive off Ramon Mendez (0-1).

Josh Fields pitched the eighth and Tony Sipp worked the ninth for his second save.

Leonys Martin scored on a double play in the Texas first, and Mike Carp drove in Robinson Chirinos with a sacrifice fly in the third. Martin, Chirinos and Elvis Andrus each had two hits for Texas.

In a scary moment to end the fourth, Rangers right fielder Jim Adduci hit the back of his head on the dirt track and then the padding along the line after tracking down a foul ball and getting undercut by second baseman Rougned Odor. Adduci was removed as a precaution in the fifth for Daniel Robertson.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: OF Shin-Soo Choo will have surgery on Friday to remove a bone spur in his left elbow. He is expected to be able to return to baseball activities for workouts by Nov. 1. ... OF Alex Rios missed his second straight game with a swollen right thumb, but manager Ron Washington said he expects him to play on Friday.

Astros: OF Robbie Grossman was out of the lineup after turning his left ankle on Wednesday night. Manager Bo Porter said he is listed as day to day. ... Reliever Darin Downs (strained muscle on his right side) is to start a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday and is expected to pitch Sunday.

UP NEXT

The Rangers send RHP Scott Baker (2-3) to the mound Friday night for his second straight start in Houston. He is 2-0 with a 2.13 ERA in seven outings since the break. Houston will counter with LHP Brett Oberholtzer (4-9).

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