Altuve to have MRI on knee
HOUSTON — Aledmys Diaz hit a three-run homer and Michael Brantley added three RBIs, leading Zack Greinke and the Astros to an 8-4 win over the Rangers on Thursday.
Greinke (3-0) struck out a season-high nine in six innings, allowing three runs and six hits.
The 36- year- old Greinke leads the majors with the most career starts among active pitchers with 455, passing teammate Justin Verlander’s 454.
Former AL MVP Jose
Altuve was replaced at the top of the third inning after sliding hard into third base in the first inning.
Astros manager Dusty Baker said Altuve experienced discomfort in his right knee and was scheduled to get an MRI. Altuve had surgery on the same knee after the 2018 season, repairing a kneecap avulsion fracture.
Rangers starter Lance Lynn (4-2) hadn’t given up more than three earned runs in a game this season but was tagged for four runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Brantley and the homer by Diaz.
It was 5-3 in the sixth when Martin Maldonado connected off Lynn for an opposite field solo shot to the first row of the seats in right. Lynn’s performance came after the Astros hit eight homers off him in four starts last season.
Lynn tied a season high by allowing eight hits and a season-high six runs with seven strikeouts in six innings for his second straight loss.
Shin-Soo Choo hit a solo homer and Nick Solak tied a career high with three hits for the Rangers, who dropped t heir sixth straight series.