LaMonte Wade Jr. struck the big blow — a third-inning grand slam — during the Astros' win over the Rangers on Saturday night. 

LaMonte Wade Jr. struck the big blow — a third-inning grand slam — during the Astros’ win over the Rangers on Saturday night. 

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros' Christian Vázquez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros’ Christian Vázquez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros' Christian Vázquez (2) celebrates as he runs the bases past Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger, right, after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros’ Christian Vázquez (2) celebrates as he runs the bases past Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger, right, after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressTexas Rangers' Joc Pederson, bottom, gets back to first base, beating a pickoff throw to Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker, top, during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers’ Joc Pederson, bottom, gets back to first base, beating a pickoff throw to Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker, top, during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros' LaMonte Wade Jr. is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros’ LaMonte Wade Jr. is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros' LaMonte Wade Jr. runs the bases after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros’ LaMonte Wade Jr. runs the bases after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros' Yordan Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros' Yordan Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressHouston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hits a home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hits a home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

LM Otero/Associated PressTexas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) is tagged out by Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) is tagged out by Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) during the seventh inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning NewsHouston Astros Lamonte Wade Jr. celebrates after hitting a grand slam with his teammates during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington. Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15), Yordan Alvarez (44) and Jose Altuve (27) scored.

Houston Astros Lamonte Wade Jr. celebrates after hitting a grand slam with his teammates during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington. Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15), Yordan Alvarez (44) and Jose Altuve (27) scored.

Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning NewsHouston Astros pitcher Peter Lambert (38) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Houston Astros pitcher Peter Lambert (38) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning NewsHouston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) and Jeremy Peña (3) gets high-fives after Alvarez hit a home run and Peña also scored during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) and Jeremy Peña (3) gets high-fives after Alvarez hit a home run and Peña also scored during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning NewsHouston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44), left, and Jeremy Peña (3) celebrate after Alvarez hit a home run and Peña also scored during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44), left, and Jeremy Peña (3) celebrate after Alvarez hit a home run and Peña also scored during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning NewsHouston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) rounds the bases after hitting a home run as Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) looks down during the first inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) rounds the bases after hitting a home run as Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) looks down during the first inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Field, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington.

Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News

ARLINGTON — Giddiness must grip Yordan Alvarez when he walks into Globe Life Field. No opposing hitter has done damage there like the Houston Astros designated hitter. Saturday, teammates did not leave him to enjoy it alone.

Alvarez slugged his American League-leading 31st home run two batters into the game. LaMonte Wade Jr. added a grand slam and Christian Vázquez a solo shot against Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker.

Behind those swings, and another strong effort from rotation savior Peter Lambert, the Astros secured a 9-3 win and evened this series between division rivals. Houston moved to 47-50, and two games back of first-place Texas, with one game to play before the All-Star break.

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Lambert received a two-run lead, thanks to Alvarez, before he threw a pitch. He threw a career-high 107 of them without giving it back, allowing only an Ezequiel Duran solo home run over six innings. Houston won for the seventh time in Lambert’s last nine starts.

Wade, the left-handed outfielder drawing a start against the right-handed Rocker, validated the matchup with one swing in the third inning. His first grand slam in eight major-league seasons provided Lambert a cushion the right-hander did not need.

Vázquez padded it with his fifth home run, joining eight Astros with hits. Christian Walker’s ninth-inning double salvaged a four-strikeout night and set up two insurance runs. A two-run homer by Duran in the bottom half made a minimal dent as a result.

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Evan Carter’s ensuing single off AJ Blubaugh, still, spurred the Astros to get closer Josh Hader up with a six-run lead. His entrance would have marked a minor defeat. Blubaugh avoided it, striking out his final two batters to finish a win for Houston.

A rotation surprise

Lambert’s outing punctuated a first half few could have projected. The minor-league free agent signing who owned a 6.28 ERA in the majors before this season, pitched last year in Japan and started this one at Triple-A Sugar Land has been arguably Houston’s most reliable starter.

With six innings of one-run ball, Lambert lowered his ERA to 3.14 through 86 innings. That is the lowest ERA and second-most innings among Astros starters. Lambert has allowed two or fewer runs in 10 of 15 outings. Six of those are quality starts.

Efficiency can elude Lambert at times, but he will remain stubborn. Saturday illustrated both. Lambert needed 107 pitches to navigate six innings but held the Rangers to three hits. He issued one walk and struck out seven.

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Mixing pitch types and speeds has become Lambert’s modus operandi. He threw seven different pitch types Saturday, none more than 24% of the time. The Rangers put 14 batted balls in play against him, just three with an exit velocity above 95 mph.

Duran won a nine-pitch at-bat by driving a four-seamer over the wall in right-center field in the fourth. No other Ranger advanced past second base against Lambert. Texas took two at-bats with a runner in scoring position against him, neither producing a hit.

Big swing by Wade

Wade’s grand slam was the first of his career. It was the fourth by an Astros hitter this season — and the first not struck by Alvarez.

Alvarez did help set the table for it. He pulled a one-out double up the right-field line in the third. Isaac Paredes worked a walk, even while losing an ABS challenge for the first time. Rocker struck out Christian Walker, but Jose Altuve lined a single into left field to load the bases and extend the inning.

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Wade got a 1-1 slider in the center of the zone and did not miss. His 400-foot drive ballooned a two-run lead into a six-run advantage, one Lambert protected easily. Wade’s second home run in the majors this season came in his 28th plate appearance. He totaled two homers in 242 plate appearances last year.

Wade drew a start in right field Saturday, with Cam Smith on the bench against the right-handed starter Rocker. The move proved prescient.

Alvarez stays hot

Entering this series Alvarez had one hit over his last 18 at-bats. Globe Life Field has proven his personal playground, however. Alvarez was 8-for-19 with six home runs in his five games in Arlington this season prior to Saturday. He then continued the upswing.

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Alvarez reached base in each of his first four plate appearances, with two hits and two walks. After his home run and double, Alvarez accepted a four-pitch walk from Rocker and worked a seven-pitch walk from Gavin Collyer in the sixth inning.

A pop-out in his final at-bat punctured an otherwise sterling night for Alvarez. He ended it with his MLB-leading OPS at 1.055 and his batting average at .315.