Major League Baseball

Castro's triple in 10th sparks Astros to win

Published Apr. 12, 2014 11:44 p.m. ET

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Jason Castro tripled with one out in the 10th and Jose Altuve had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly, helping the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 Saturday night to end a 12-game skid against their state rival.

Marwin Gonzalez, running for Castro, scored Altuve's fly off Rangers closer Joakim Soria (1-1).

The Astros, hitting a major league low .188 entering the game, scored five runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead.

Michael Choice hit his first career homer in the ninth to tie it as Texas rallied in the eighth and the ninth to send the foes into extra innings for the second straight night.

Kevin Chapman (1-0) allowed Choice's homer but was awarded the victory. Anthony Bass pitched the 10th for his second save. Texas put runners on first and third with one out in the ninth before Bass struck out Kevin Kouzmanoff and got Choice to ground out to first base.

Shin-Soo Choo came into the game having reached base 12 of his previous 16 plate appearances but struck out all five times up, including with the winning run at second base with two out in the ninth.

Houston starter Jarred Cosart shut down Texas after allowing three runs in the first four innings, limiting the Rangers to six hits while striking out eight in seven innings.

The Rangers' streak against Houston was the longest streak in the majors between any two teams. Texas has won 17 of 20 meetings over Houston since the beginning of last season, when the state rivals became intradivision foes with the Astros moving from the National League into the American League West.

Tanner Scheppers, making his third career start since transitioning this season from short relief, allowed five runs on only four hits plus a walk and two hit batters in seven innings.

The Rangers pulled within one in the eighth when Alex Rios' double off the wall in left center scored Elvis Andrus with none out. But Rios was thrown out trying to steal third, and Texas didn't threaten again.

Texas scored five batters in but left two on in the opening inning. Cosart retired 10 of the last 11 batters that he faced.

NOTES: Rangers GM Jon Daniels said the club is leaning toward placing 3B Adrian Beltre on the disabled list and should decide by Monday. Beltre has been sidelined since Tuesday with a strained left quad. . Houston called up RHP Paul Clemens from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed RHP Scott Feldman on the bereavement list. Astros manager Bo Porter said Feldman, who pitched Friday after his father, Marshall, died Wednesday, could miss a start. . Texas acquired RHP pitcher Hector Noesi on Saturday from Seattle for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

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