After coming off of a dissapointing series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Houston Astros were back home Friday night to start a three game series with the Texas Rangers. 

On the mound for the Rangers, was right-hander Miles Mikolas. Mikolas was 1-4 on the season with an alarming 7.29 ERA coming into Friday night's ballgame. On July 7 back in Arlington, Mikolas lost to the Astros. He gave up nine runs on twelve hits in just 3 1/3 innings pitched. In Friday night's start, he seemed like a totally different pitcher. Despite giving up a solo home run to Chris Carter in the bottom of the 5th inning, he settled in pretty nicely. Due to his pitch count being at 105 pitches after five innings, his night was over. At the time that he left, the Rangers were leading 2-1. They had to rely on their bullpen  for the rest of the game. 

Pitching for the Astros, was left-hander Brett Oberholtzer. Oberholtzer entered Friday night's game with a 4-7 record along with a 4.17 ERA. In the first inning, J.P. Arencibia hit a two-run shot to left field to give the Rangers an early 2-0 lead. As the game went along, Brett settled down, and that was all the damage the Rangers were able to do. In seven innings, Oberholtzer allowed only two runs on six hits. He was in line for the loss with the Astros trailing 2-1 at the time of his departure. In the bottom of the 8th inning however, the Astros helped him avoid his eighth loss on the season. Jon Singleton led off the inning with a soft base hit to center field. He eventually came home on a two-run home run hit by Robbie Grossman to give the Astros a 3-2 lead. That home run was Grossman's fifth of the season. Three of his five home runs have came off of the Rangers. Jake Marisnick followed Grossman's homer with an infield hit. Two batters later, Gregorio Petit laced a double to left field that scored Marisnick, giving the Astros a 4-2 lead.

In the ninth inning, Chad Qualls came on for the save. Right away the Rangers were making a threat to come back. Adam Rosales led off the inning with a double to left field. He came around to score on a base hit by Mike Carp, trimming the lead to 4-3. Rougned Odor followed Carp with a single into left field. With one out and runners at first and second, Daniel Robertson grounded into a 4-6-3 game-ending double play. The Astros had held on to snap their brief three-game losing streak.