Jose Altuve was more than due when he came to bat in the 10th inning Arian Foster Jersey , and got a winning rally started for the Houston Astros.

”He hadn’t gotten a hit in four at-bats,” manager A.J. Hinch said of the second basemen who led the American League in hits each of the past four seasons and is the MLB leader so far this year.

Altuve was actually in an 0-for-13 slide before his fifth at-bat Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers. His 115th hit of the season was a one-out single off Chris Martin, who then hit Yuli Gurriel with a pitch before an errant pickoff throw allowed both runners to move up. That set up Evan Gattis‘ tiebreaking sacrifice fly in a 5-4 victory.

Gurriel homered, doubled and scored twice as the Astros overcame an early four-run deficit. His fifth homer, leading off the fifth against starter Mike Minor, tied the game at 4.

Josh Reddick also went deep for the Astros, who their eighth consecutive road game against Texas and are a majors-best 32-14 on the road this season. The Astros have a 12-4 advantage in the season series between the instate division rivals that has only a three-game set remaining in Houston later this month.

Shin-Soo Choo homered and had a single to extend his on-base streak to 44 games, the longest in his career and in the majors this season. That matches Otis Nixon’s streak in 1995 for the Rangers, and trails only Julio Franco’s 46-gamer in 1993 for the team record.

Texas led 4-0 after Choo’s one-out solo homer started a three-run outburst in the third off starter Gerrit Cole.

Collin McHugh (4-0), who won 48 games as a starter for the Astros the past four seasons [url=[http://www.cowboyscheapshop.com/cheap-au...rederick-jersey]Travis Frederick Jersey[/url] , allowed only one hit over three scoreless innings. Ken Giles worked the 10th for his 12th save in 12 chances.

”You’re talking about a 19-game winner in the big leagues. Those don’t grow on trees,” said Astros reliever Will Harris, who worked out of a jam in the sixth before McHugh took over. ”He goes out there and he knows who he is. He mixes it up, he’s a strike thrower and he’s a fearless guy out there.”

MESSY MOUND

The start of the game was delayed for a few minutes after Minor had issues with the mound during warmups. The ground crew came out to work on the slippery dirt. Cole also was unhappy with the mound. Martin (1-2) slipped and fell down when throwing the pitch that hit Gurriel. The Rangers said afterward that Martin was being evaluated for a left groin issue.

”The mound early seemed to be slick,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said.

DEEP ON THE ROAD

The Astros have homered in 24 consecutive road games, three short of the MLB record set by the Oakland Athletics earlier this season. Baltimore also went deep in 24 consecutive road games in 1996.

RACKING UP K’s

Cole, who threw 108 pitches to get through five innings, struck out seven to increase his season total to 158. The only Astros pitcher with more strikeouts before the All-Star break is Mike Scott, with 167 in 22 starts in 1986. Cole has made 18 starts, with two more scheduled before the break. … In four starts against Texas this season D.J. Reader Jersey , Cole has 40 strikeouts in 25 innings.

FAR FROM PERFECT

Minor retired the first 19 San Diego batters he faced in his previous start a week earlier. The lefty allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits over six innings against Houston with four strikeouts and three walks.

”Probably not as sharp as he’s been,” Banister said. ”Looked like they were sitting on slider.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Hinch said C Max Stassi was feeling better than expected after getting hit by a pitch on his right (throwing) wrist in the first inning Tuesday, on the same day starting catcher Brian McCann had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Rangers: 3B Adrian Beltre, baseball’s active career hits leader (3,108), was scratched from the lineup about an hour before the game because of an infected tooth. He had a root canal and then traveled with the team to Detroit. … RHP Tony Barnette went on the 10-day disabled list. An MRI revealed a strained lat that will keep him from throwing for at least four weeks. He left Tuesday night’s game in the middle of a batter.

UP NEXT

Astros: Justin Verlander (9-4), who has lost his last two starts, is on the mound when the Astros return home for the opener Thursday night of a four-game series against the Chicago White Sox.

Rangers: The Rangers open a 10-game, 11-day trip that will take them to the All-Star break when they play Thursday night at Detroit. Texas also plays at Boston and Baltimore before their next home game July 20.

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The long-awaited contract talks between star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and the New York Giants are going to start relatively soon.

After months of waiting to see how Beckham recovered from a broken left ankle and how the 25-year-old mended his ways, Giants co-owner John Mara said Thursday the talks with player and his representatives will take place sooner rather than later.

"I think this was the time that we always had in mind Brandon Marshall Jersey ," Mara said.

"But I think Odell personally is moving in the right direction. He has come in here with a good attitude. Showed up yesterday with a smile on his face. He's worked hard. I think he's ready to go. He's ready for a great season."

The 25-year-old Beckham is entering the fifth and final season of his rookie contract. He is to earn $8.5 million this season, but the three-time Pro Bowler whose career has been tarnished by off-the- field issues, wants to be among the NFL's highest-paid players, certainly the highest-paid receiver.

Mara refused to say how much the Giants were willing to pay, but noted the franchise wants Beckham to stay for a long time.

Beckham, who was injured in early October and missed the rest of the season, helped himself in the offseason by working hard. He attended about half of the voluntary organized team activities and reported to camp on time Wednesday.

Beckham took part in about 50 percent of the plays in Thursday's workout and later ran sprints on a back field. He looked good.

Beckham has been the catalyst of the Giants' offense since being drafted in the first round in 2014. In 47 NFL games, the former LSU product has 313 catches for 4,424 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Fellow receiver Sterling Shepard said Thursday that Beckham seems even more explosive this season.

"He wants to show everyone he still has it," Shepard said.

In a wide-ranging interview with the media on the first day of practice Yannick Ngakoue Jersey , Mara said he hopes the league and the players union will be able to agree on a national anthem policy. He said the team would wait to see what happened in meetings which he said will take place soon.

"Hopefully we can find a resolution that everyone is open to," Mara said.

Mara also said he believes 37-year-old quarterback Eli Manning still had several good years ahead of him.

The co-owner also is excited by the unlimited physical skills of running back Saquon Barkley. He is concerned about the hype being thrust on the second overall pick in the draft.

"I think he is capable of living up to it," Mara said. "I think he is mature beyond his years."

Mara says he still has not recovered from last year's 3-13 season that led to the firing of coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese in early December.

However, he admits there is a new feeling in the building with the changes made by new coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman.

Gettleman, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in late spring, is doing well and is currently in remission, Mara said.

Gettleman was in the office Wednesday and spoke to the team.

"I don't think I have ever been around a more upbeat person in my life, particularly going through what he has been going through," Mara said. "He is optimistic about his recovery and his ability to work this year."
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