Joey Gallo, known for his long ball, singled through the right side of a drawn-in infield to score the go-ahead and winning runs in the seventh inning and the Texas Rangers held on for a 6-4 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.

Rougned Odor opened the decisive seventh inning with an infield single to second off Astros reliever Framber Valdez, and advanced to third on Elvis Andrus' double to deep right with the game tied at 4-4.

The Rangers chased a shaky Justin Verlander in the fifth inning, a frame that started with a Shin-Soo Choo triple to deep center. Andrus, 2-for-4 on the night, and Nomar Mazara followed with RBI singles to take Texas from down 3-2 to up 4-3.

Verlander, who was spectacular in his season-opening win, was erratic against the Rangers' lineup. He gave up three walks and six hits, including a two-run homer to Asdrubal Cabrera, his third blast of the season, which tied it at 2-2 in the second inning.

Verlander struck out four while throwing 94 pitches, and he also hit Odor following Choo's triple.

In the sixth inning, the Astros, who outhit Texas 11-9 and stranded 11 baserunners, tied it at 4-4 on doubles from Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa, whose shot to right came with two out against reliever Jesse Chavez.

Rangers starter Shelby Miller lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on five hits, but he was also his own worst enemy with five walks that ramped his pitch total to 88 in his Texas debut.

Relievers Shawn Kelley and Chris Martin held the Astros in check in the seventh and eighth innings. Closer Jose Leclerc picked up his second save of the season with a perfect, six-pitch ninth.

The American League West division rivals will play the rubber game Wednesday night. The Astros will send Gerrit Cole to the mound, while Texas' Mike Minor will look to shake off a poor opening-day start in a loss to the Chicago Cubs.

--Field Level Media