(Photo credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images)

Zach Cole and Jesus Sanchez came up big after an injury to Yordan Alvarez, and the Houston Astros rallied for a 6-3 win over the visiting Texas Rangers on Monday in the opener of a three-game series with major postseason ramifications.

Alvarez had to leave the game after he slipped on home plate while scoring a first-inning run, injuring his left ankle. The run, one of two that resulted from a throwing error by Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter, gave Houston an early 2-0 lead.

The Astros (82-69) ended the night three games up on the Rangers (79-72) in the race for the third and final American League wild-card position. Houston is now a half-game back of the idle Seattle Mariners (82-68), who lead the AL West.

Alvarez's injury prompted Cole to enter the game in right field, while Sanchez slid over into the opening in left. Both proceeded to play significant roles in Houston's third win in the past four games.

Cole launched a two-out, two-run homer off Leiter in the fifth inning, putting the Astros on top for good at 4-3. The long ball was the second of the rookie's four-game major league career.

Texas had a chance to tie the game in the seventh, when Wyatt Langford singled with two on and two outs. But Sanchez, who had started the game in right field, threw out Johan Heim at the plate, preserving the 4-3 advantage.

Sanchez then doubled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, and scored when Jeremy Pena followed with a run-scoring double. Cole then made it a three-RBI night with a single that scored Pena for a 6-3 lead.

Astros relievers Steven Okert, Jayden Murray, Bryan King and Bryan Abreu threw 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball in relief of Jason Alexander. The starter was pulled two outs into the fifth, having served up a two-run homer to Josh Jung and an RBI single to Josh Smith earlier in the inning.

Okert (3-2), who struck out three of the four batters he faced, was credited with the win. Abreu notched his sixth save despite a two-hit ninth.

Alexander was charged with all three Rangers runs, only one of which was earned. He gave up five hits and one walk while striking out five.

Leiter (9-9) permitted six runs, three earned. He served up five hits and a walk, and he struck out four.

Pena joined Cole with two hits for the Astros, who were out-hit 10-6.

Langford and Jung, whose homer was his 14th, had a pair of hits apiece for the Rangers, who lost a second straight after a six-game winning streak.

--Field Level Media