HOUSTON -- Kyle Tucker doubled twice and had three RBI and Jose Altuve added three hits and drove in two runs as the Houston Astros used a seven-run seventh inning to break a tie and coast to a 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
The Astros snapped a four-game skid and bounced back after allowing the Rangers to score their season high in a 12-8 win in the series opener.
Altuve said he hopes this game can help get the Astros on a roll after their early struggles.
"We as a team are very confident... this is the kind of team we are, we have done it before," Altuve said. "I don't see why we can't start doing it again."
It was tied at 2 and the bases were loaded with one out in the seventh when pinch-hitter Victor Caratini's RBI single to right field off Jose Urena (0-1) put the Astros on top.
Altuve followed with a double to the corner of left field to send two more home and push the lead to 5-2. Austin Pruitt took over and intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez before Tucker doubled to center field to score two more.
Houston made it 9-2 when Alvarez scored on a sacrifice fly by Yainer Diaz.
"That was great," Manager Joe Espada said. "That's the offense that I'm used to seeing. When we get pitchers against the ropes, we've got to put them away and that's exactly what we did today."
Ronel Blanco, who threw a no-hitter in his season debut and pitched six scoreless innings Sunday, gave the Astros another solid start Saturday. He gave up two runs in the first inning before settling down to pitch five scoreless frames. He allowed five singles with three walks and five strikeouts.
It was a much-needed performance after Houston's starters had allowed 31 earned runs with a 20.93 ERA across 13 1/3 innings in the last five games.
"It started with Blanco," Espada said. "He set the stage and then our offense got some big hits."
Texas starter Andrew Heaney yielded four hits and two runs while walking four in 3 2/3 innings.
"I'm fighting myself a little bit right now, mechanically, mentally, just having a hard time getting some traction, getting going," he said. "So I'm just going to keep working."
The Rangers loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Bryan Abreu (1-1) struck out Evan Carter to escape the jam before Houston took the lead in the bottom of the inning.
Rookie Wyatt Langford had two hits and an RBI for Texas and Adolis Garcia added two hits.
Houston's Jose Abreu, who is hitting just .122 this season, had two hits with a double for his first multi-hit game this season and his first extra base hit of the year.
Blanco walked Evan Carter and Garcia with two outs in the first before giving up his first run of the season on an RBI single by Josh Smith. Langford followed with a run-scoring single to push the lead to 2-0.
Abreu opened the fourth with a double and moved to third on a groundout by Jake Meyers before scoring on a groundout by Mauricio Dubon to cut the lead to 2-1.
Heaney then hit Altuve and Alvarez with pitches and was lifted for Jacob Latz. Tucker lined a double into center field to score Altuve and tie it at 2-2.
Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña runs to first base after hitting an RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve (27) celebrates with Yainer Diaz, left, after scoring on a two-run double by Kyle Tucker during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Kyle Tucker, right, ties a baseball game with an RBI double during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve reacts after being hit with a pitch from Texas Rangers starter Andrew Heaney during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney winds up during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a two-run double by Kyle Tucker during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Austin Pruitt looks at the runner on first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien, right, forces out Houston Astros' José Abreu, left, but misses turning a double play against Astros' Grae Kessinger during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)