HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a two-run home run, and Jeremy Pena homered and doubled to help the Houston Astros complete a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 5-2 win Wednesday night.

The victory, coupled with Seattle’s loss to Kansas City, moves the Astros a half-game ahead of the Mariners for first place in the AL West.

The game was tied 2-2 when Carlos Correa singled to start the third inning. Altuve’s home run off Jacob deGrom (12-8) to left field gave the Astros a 4-2 lead. Altuve now has 37 homers and 100 RBIs in his career against the Rangers, the most he has against any team.

Pena connected off deGrom on his home run to the first row in right field to start Houston’s fifth inning, pushing the lead to 5-2.

Cristian Javier (2-3) allowed five hits and two runs in six strong innings to earn the win in his seventh start after missing more than a year recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bryan King pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save.

DeGrom gave up six hits and tied a season-high by allowing five runs. He lasted just five innings after the Astros forced him to throw 35 pitches in the first inning.

In the first inning, Pena hit a leadoff double followed by a single from Correa. With two outs, Yainer Diaz’s single scored both runners to give Houston an early lead.

The Rangers responded in the second inning when Alejandro Osuna singled with one out and stole second base. Josh Jung then hit an RBI double to cut Houston’s lead to 2-1. Later, Cody Freeman singled with two outs to send Jung home and tie the game.

The Rangers went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and have now lost their fourth straight game.

**Key moment:** Altuve’s home run that put Houston ahead for good.
**Key stat:** The win gives the Astros a 7-6 advantage in the season series against the Rangers. The Astros have won the series, known as the Silver Boot, every year since 2017.

**Up next:** Both teams are off Thursday. Texas will host the opener of a three-game series against Miami on Friday night, while the Mariners come to Houston to start a key division series that same night.
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