Josh Smith Hits Game-Winning Homer for Rangers

— In a thrilling matchup between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, Josh Smith delivered a dramatic game-ending home run, marking his first at any level. The 410-foot blast into the right-center seats came with two outs in the 10th inning, securing a 4-3 victory for the Rangers. This win was particularly significant as it occurred in the final series of the season between these fierce AL West rivals, both of whom have claimed recent World Series titles. Corey Seager also made headlines, hitting his 23rd home run of the season, and his fourth in as many games, during the eighth inning. This timely hit helped the Rangers, now 54-59, inch closer to the division-leading Seattle Mariners, who remain five games ahead. Seager expressed relief and excitement about the team's performance, emphasizing the importance of clutch home runs in tight games. The Astros, currently 57-55, struggled to maintain their lead, having twice relinquished it during the game. They now find themselves 1.5 games behind the Mariners in the AL West standings. The Rangers have taken a 6-5 lead in their season series against Houston, with two games left to play. Last year, both teams finished with 90 wins, but the Astros clinched the division title through a head-to-head tiebreaker. On the pitching front, Rangers' Heaney showcased a strong performance, allowing just one hit over six innings, while Astros' Framber Valdez prepares to face Texas again after his previous losses in last year's AL Championship Series.