Astros' Correa leaves with apparent ankle injury at Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Carlos Correa knows a bad ankle injury because he had one that cost him half a season in the minor leagues.

So when Houston's star shortstop limped off the field after spraining his left ankle against Texas on Thursday, that was a good sign in his mind - even if he didn't return to the game and is likely to sit out the next one for the Astros.

Correa was injured in the fifth inning running out a groundout in Houston's 5-3 loss to the Rangers.

The 21-year-old ducked under a wide throw from Texas third baseman Jurickson Profar and took a large final stride at first base. Correa's foot slipped off the bag, and he limped off the field after staying down for several minutes.

X-rays were negative for the first overall pick in the 2012 draft. When he was 19, he missed the last half of the 2014 season at Class A High Desert in California with a right ankle injury.

''Obviously, I had an experience before where I hurt my ankle and I couldn't even walk,'' Correa said. ''So when I could at least walk, at least limping, in my mind it was good news.''

Jose Altuve moved to shortstop from second base after the injury, with Tony Kemp taking over at second. Manager A.J. Hinch said Correa likely would miss the series opener Friday night at Tampa Bay.

''It was pretty scary,'' said Altuve, who made his first career appearance in the majors at short. ''He said it was good and I felt better after that.''

Prince Fielder and Rougned Odor homered as the Rangers clinched a franchise-record 10th straight home series victory. They took the finale of a four-game set a day after the Astros snapped a 12-game losing streak in Arlington with their first win of the season against their instate rivals.

Martin Perez (5-4) won his fourth straight start as the defending AL West champs finished 6-1 on a homestand that started with a sweep of Seattle in a series that began with the teams tied for first. Houston's other two losses in the series were by one run apiece.

''It's always difficult to play just good enough to lose by a little,'' Hinch said. ''I like our team. I thought our guys fought back today.''

Mitch Moreland, who like Fielder was benched for two games during the homestand because of their struggles at the plate, had two doubles. One of them scored Elvis Andrus from first in a three-run third that erased a 2-0 Houston lead.

''The swings look a little bit closer, a little fresher,'' said Texas manager Jeff Banister, who nodded ever so slightly while watching Fielder return to the dugout after his fourth-inning liner inside the foul pole in right off Collin McHugh (5-5). ''These guys are good hitters. We're going to continue to grind away with them.''

Odor, batting cleanup for the first time in his career, led off the eighth with his ninth homer for a two-run lead.

Matt Bush struck out the side while issuing a walk in the eighth. Lefty Jake Diekman coaxed a double play for his first career save with closer Sam Dyson unavailable for a second day because of a heavy workload.

After Altuve's second hit - an RBI single in the seventh - Kemp flied out to the fence in right field in a one-run game.

Profar extended his career-best hitting streak to 12 games, longest for Texas this season, with two singles and an RBI. Profar filled in on a scheduled day off for Adrian Beltre, who left Wednesday's game early with tightness in his left hamstring.

Out of the majors for two seasons because of shoulder problems, Profar has a hit in every game since getting recalled from the minors to fill in at second during Odor's seven-game suspension. Profar also has a hit in all 18 games as Texas' leadoff man in his career.

SHORT HOPS

Astros reliever Chris Devenski pitched 3 1-3 scoreless innings. The rookie right-hander has allowed two earned runs in 26 1-3 innings. ... McHugh gave up seven hits and four runs in 3 2-2 innings, his shortest outing since April 6. It was his first career loss to the Rangers.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (3-1, 4.23) pitches at Tampa Bay coming off a solid seven-inning outing in a 5-2 win over Oakland. He has struck out at least seven in four consecutive starts.