Texas Rangers fall 5-4 to Houston Astros after late HR. Scoring plays, videos and more

Jose Altuve’s three-run homer in the ninth inning gave the Houston Astros a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

The best-of-seven series heads to Houston on Sunday with the Astros leading 3-2 after sweeping all three games in Arlington.

It was Leclerc’s first blown save of the postseason.

Ryan Pressley came to get the save for the Astros. He allowed hits to Mitch Garver and Jonah Heim before retiring the top of the order, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Evan Carter to end the game.

Bullpen holds firm

Aroldis Chapman came on in the top of the eight-inning and allowed a two-out double after striking out Alvarez and popping out Jose Abreu. Jose Leclerc came out and got the final out of the inning an infield pop-out by Michael Brantley.

The Rangers and Astros get into a benches-clearing argument after Adolis Garcia is hit by an Jose Abreu pitch. Garica, Abreau and Dusty Baker were all ejected from the game and the Rangers stranded runners on first and third to end the inning.

Evan Carter continues to wow in the outfield

Sborz came back out in the seventh inning and got some help from Carter, who made an excellent play to rob the Astros of an extra-base hit and possibly a run. Sborz got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Rangers go down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Adolis Garcia gives Rangers the lead

The Astros got runners on first and third with one out with a chance to take back momentum. Jose Abreu came up first and hit a ground ball right at Corey Seager who misplayed the ball to allow a run to score. The next batter earned a walk to load the bases which ended Montgomery’s day.

Josh Sborz came in to try and limit the damage. Sborz had yet to allow a run in the postseason and continued that streak getting back-to-back outs to end the inning.

Following a double by Seager and a single by Carter, Garcia hits a massive three-run home run to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead. Verlander exits the game giving up four runs in six innings.

Rangers get on the scoreboard

It looked like the Rangers had a routine double play to end the fifth inning but an error by Semien extended the inning. With runners on first and third and two outs, Jose Altuve attempted a bunt and failed ending the inning.

Verlander had only allowed one hit through the first five innings until a Nathaniel Lowe home run to left field tied the game.

Quiet fourth inning

The Rangers outfield continues to make plays for their pitcher with Adolis Garcia making an excellent grab in right field and the Astros get no baserunners in the inning.

Garcia and Evan Carter both hit fly balls and Leody Taveras popped up to end the inning.

Early pitchers duel

Montgomery has breezed through the Astros lineup after his first-inning hiccup not allowing a hit since.

Rangers hitters finally get a hit off Verlander after a Mitch Garver walk. However, the Rangers strand runners on first and third after Semien and Seager are retired on two pitches.

Quiet second inning

Montgomery retires the Astros in order with a quick and efficient 10-pitch inning.

Verlander continued to stymie the Rangers batters keeping them hitless through two innings with the help of some good infield defense.

Astros take the lead in the first inning

Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery gave up a one-run home run to Alex Bregman after dispatching the first two batters on two pitches. Yordan Alvarez followed Bregman up with a single but was stranded on base.

Verlander retires the Rangers in order in the bottom of the first, taking two pitches dispatch Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.

The Texas Rangers will start Jordan Montgomery in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Globe Life Field on Friday in an attempt to stop the Houston Astros’ offensive barrage.

The Astros beat the Rangers 10-3 on Thursday to even the best-of-seven series at 2-2.

The Astros will counter with future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander.

First pitch is at 4:07 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on FS1.

Friday schedule

1:10-2:10 p.m.—Rangers batting practice

2:10-3:10 p.m.—Astros batting practice

3:50 p.m.-National Anthem-Sabrina Patel

3:52 p.m.—Ceremonial first pitch—Tom Grieve to Bengie Molina

4:07 p.m.—First pitch, Astros vs. Rangers

https://cue.misitemgr.com/#/main?name=1020_ALCS_Running_Blog&uri=https:%2F%2Fcue-webservice.misitemgr.com%2Fwebservice%2Fescenic%2Fcontent%2F280774030&mimetype=x-ece%2Fstory&extra=%7B%22modelURI%22:%7B%22string%22:%22https:%2F%2Fcue-webservice.misitemgr.com%2Fwebservice%2Fescenic%2Fpublication%2Fstar-telegram%2Fmodel%2Fcontent-type%2Fstory%22,%22$class%22:%22URI%22%7D,%22homePublication%22:%7B%22name%22:%22star-telegram%22,%22uri%22:%7B%22string%22:%22https:%2F%2Fcue-webservice.misitemgr.com%2Fwebservice%2Fescenic%2Fpublication%2Fstar-telegram%2F%22,%22$class%22:%22URI%22%7D,%22mimetype%22:%7B%22string%22:%22application%2Fatom%2Bxml;%20type%3Dentry%22,%22$class%22:%22cue.core.MIMEType%22%7D,%22$class%22:%22cue.core.Link%22%7D,%22container%22:false%7D

Some pregame reads

Mac Engel: Don’t blame the roof or the umpire for the Game 4 loss

Rally stopper: How a batting glove stopped a potential Rangers rally

Obstructed view: He paid $200 for the worst ticket at Globe Life Field. But he’s happy

Hitting barrage: Why are the Astros so comfortable hitting at Globe Life Field?

Roofgate: Why is Astros manager Dusty Baker perplexed about opening the roof?