Wild pitch sparks Texas’ wild rally vs. Astros

HOUSTON — As losses go, this was about as devastating it gets for the reeling Astros.

The first-place Rangers rallied for two runs after two outs in the ninth inning off closer Ken Giles to stun the Astros, 3-2, at Minute Maid Park, sending Houston to its sixth loss in seven games and 15th in 18 tries against Texas this year.

“Looking at the won-loss record, it means nothing,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “The Astros have a terrific ballclub, a group of players I respect immensely. I am extremely proud of the job our guys have done and how they’ve stayed engaged in every single game.”

Rougned Odor reached on a strikeout-wild pitch with one out in the ninth, stole second and then scored the tying run on a two-out triple to center off the bat of Elvis Andrus. Jurickson Profar followed with a single to left to score Andrus and put the Rangers ahead, 3-2.

The Astros, who dropped 4 1/2 games back of the Orioles and Blue Jays in the American League Wild Card race, got six strong innings from starter Brad Peacock and solo homers from Jose Altuve and Jason Castro to take a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning, but Giles couldn’t hold it as the Rangers posted their 18th last at-bat win of the season while improving to 33-10 in one-run games.

“I’ve seen and been in some tough ones, and this one is pretty hard,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “We had every chance to win the game and obviously strange things happen when we play these guys. … These guys play complete games across the way and we haven’t been able to solve them. This one sucks.”

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Strikeout starts rally: Odor got the Rangers’ ninth-inning rally started when Giles struck him out and the ball kicked away from catcher Jason Castro for a wild pitch, allowing him to reach first. Odor then stole second base with ease with Mitch Moreland at the plate. Odor reaching on the strikeout was crucial as Moreland struck out, …

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