Overall, Dane Dunning had a good outing. He pitched 6.2 innings, striking out seven, giving up only four hits and three walks. 

But it was his third-inning temporary wildness that did him in. After striking out Jeremy Peña, he walked Jake Myers, then walked Jose Altuve. Home plate umpire Scott Barry had a challenging night. Two of the four pitches that were called balls on Altuve hit the lower outside corner. That happens.

What also happens is Yordan Alverez hits the ball hard. He rocketed a Dane Dunning pitch into deep right field to give the Astros a 3-0 lead the Rangers could never overcome.

Houston’s starter Ronel Blanco was still throwing the no-hitter he threw in his last start. Texas didn’t get a hit off him until two outs in the sixth inning, and then really couldn’t get anything going until Justin Foscue’s single in the ninth, his first major league hit which doubled as his first major league run batted in.

The Rangers ended up losing 3-1, erasing any chance of sweeping Houston. But a win tonight means they’d win three out of four. And that would be a nice early season dagger in the heart of the Astros. Assuming they have a heart.

*****

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