ARLINGTON, Texas  — Mauricio Dubón and Jose Altuve twice hit back-to-back home runs, rookie catcher Yainer Diaz had a three-run shot to cap Houston’s big seventh inning, and the Astros beat the struggling Texas Rangers 13-6 on Monday.

In the opener of a pivotal series between AL West contenders, Houston pulled within a percentage point of first-place Seattle. Texas is in third but only a game behind.

The Astros went ahead to stay with a six-run seventh, which began with them loading the bases on a walk and two singles off reliever Josh Sborz (5-7). José Abreu walked to force in the run that made it 6-5.

All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who homered twice for Texas, then misplayed a grounder for an error that allowed two more runs to score before Diaz hit his 21st homer of the season.

There were nine home runs in all, a single-game record at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020.

Josh Smith homered in the Texas ninth off Ryne Stanek, who later in the inning injured his right foot while covering first base. Stanek remained on the ground after he fell back hard and his foot turned awkwardly, and was taken off the field on a motorized cart. There was no immediate word from the Astros on the extent of the reliever’s injury.

Rafael Montero (3-3), the second of six Houston pitches, worked a perfect sixth.

TWINS 20, GUARDIANS 6: Royce Lewis had a grand slam and a career-high six RBI, and Jorge Polanco and Carlos Correa added solo homers off Lucas Giolito in his Cleveland debut as AL Central-leading Minnesota beat the Guardians in Cleveland.

Lewis, the rookie third baseman, tied the franchise record with his third grand slam of the season – all in the last eight games – and has four career slams in 56 games in the majors. Three of them have been against Cleveland.

The Twins moved six games ahead of the second-place Guardians with 24 to play, including two more in this series at Progressive Field.

ROYALS 12, WHITE SOX 1: Cole Ragans continued his recent success with six scoreless innings as Kansas City beat visiting Chicago in the first game of a three-game series.

The American League Pitcher of the Month for August, Ragans (6-4) retired the first 13 batters he faced and finished with just one hit allowed. He struck out seven and didn’t walk anyone. He now has a 21-inning scoreless streak. Since coming to the Royals June 30 in a trade for Aroldis Chapman, Ragans is 4-1 with a 1.51 ERA (eight earned runs in 47 2/3 innings) and 63 strikeouts in eight starts.

Edward Olivares was 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs. Every Royals starter except for Salvador Perez had at least one hit, and Perez had an RBI.

BLUE JAYS 6, ATHLETICS 5: Pinch-hitter Santiago Espinal hit a tiebreaking double in Toronto’s three-run 10th inning on the first pitch thrown by Francisco Pérez that scored Mason McCoy from second base, and the visiting Blue Jays beat Oakland.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CUBS 5, GIANTS 0: Justin Steele tossed dominant two-hit ball through eight innings to move into a tie for the major league lead in wins, leading the Cubs past San Francisco in Chicago.

Steele improved to 16-3, matching the victory total of Atlanta’s Spencer Strider, as he won his seventh straight decision. Chicago’s All-Star left-hander overwhelmed the sliding Giants on a scorching afternoon at Wrigley Field, striking out a career-high 12 and walking two as the Cubs strengthened their grip on the second NL wild-card spot.

PIRATES 4, BREWERS 2: Ke’Bryan Hayes homered and tripled, Jack Suwinski drilled his 23rd home run and Pittsburgh beat visiting Milwaukee.

DIAMONDBACKS 4, ROCKIES 2: Merrill Kelly matched a career high with 12 strikeouts in seven dominating innings, Jace Peterson hit a two-run double and Arizona beat Colorado in Phoenix.

INTERLEAGUE

REDS 6, MARINERS 3: Spencer Steer hit a three-run home run to help Cincinnati beat visiting Seattle in an interleague matchup of playoff contenders.

The Reds began the day in a four-way tie for the third NL wild-card spot, and the AL-west leading Mariners are 39-18 since July 1 for the best record in the major leagues in that span.

Julio Rodriguez and Mike Ford hit solo home runs for Seattle.

NOTES

DODGERS: Pitcher Julio Urías was arrested Sunday night and his Los Angeles County Jail booking sheet indicates he was detained in connection with a suspected felony offense.

Urías was released Monday morning on $50,000 bond. TMZ and ESPN reported Urías was charged with felony domestic violence, citing sources. Urías was detained by Exposition Park police, who declined to disclose what charges Urías was arrested on, but told the Associated Press it would release more details Monday.

The Dodgers released a statement that read, “We are aware of an incident involving Julio Urías. While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time.”

Urías’ representative, Scott Boras, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

GUARDIANS: Cleveland is targeting a Sept. 20 return for injured right-handers Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie to rejoin the rotation in an effort to make up ground on the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins.

Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, has not pitched since July 9 because of inflammation in his right elbow, while McKenzie was placed on the injured list on June 17 with a sprained right elbow.

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