HOUSTON -- The Rangers have struggled to win at Minute Maid Park for years, and while they hoped to turn a corner on Friday, they weren't quite able to do so.

Texas extended its losing streak to 10 games following a 7-3 loss to the Astros. The Rangers haven’t won a game in Houston since Sept. 16, 2020. The club has two separate losing streaks of five or more games at Minute Maid, both coming since the start of 2019: nine straight in 2019 from May 9 to Sept. 18, 2019, and the current streak of eight straight.

“Ever since I’ve been here, we haven't really played [well] here,” manager Chris Woodward said. “It's tough place, but it's actually been fun this year because of the crowd. Since they've opened it, full capacity, it's been pretty fun. I know that a lot of the fans like the Texas-Houston rivalries, so it’s alive and well, and they bring it.”

Though they took another loss, the Rangers' offense has been taking steps forward since suffering three straight shutouts against the Blue Jays and Tigers coming out of the All-Star break. Texas scored all three of its runs in the fifth inning with two outs, putting together good at-bats up and down the lineup.

Woodward was pleased with the fight and energy later in the game, but he wants the club to “let it rip” a little more often going forward.

“Obviously, we did fight back in the game,” Woodward said. “Guys try, and maybe they're trying too hard at times. That's normal when you're young and it’s your first time in the big leagues. Then the team is losing on top of that. So there's a little bit of a perfect storm of not great things right now.

“Some of these guys, you know, if you're worried or you're concerned or stressed out, it's like, ‘Hey, man, what do we got to lose?’ I mean, we’ve lost 10 in a row. What do we have to lose tomorrow? Let's go out and compete.”

The run production from the Rangers came from unusual places. Infielders Andy Ibáñez and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, both of whom have struggled in the leadup to the All-Star break, came through for Texas.

Ibáñez was hitting .222 on the season heading into Friday’s game, while Kiner-Falefa was slashing just .179/.220/.232 over his last 15 games. Both had hits in the run-scoring fifth inning, including an RBI single from Kiner-Falefa. Both scored soon after with a two-run triple from Nathaniel Lowe as the Rangers cut the Astros’ lead to 7-3.

“I think with Andy, he's giving himself a chance every time he gets up there,” Woodward said. “He had a good walk today and got lucky a little bit on the hit he got, but it was [on an 0-2 count], and he put the ball in play on a nasty pitch down. I like to see the everyday grind. This kid can hit a ball harder than anybody, but I like to see that the fight with two strikes.” 

Since returning from the All-Star break, Kiner-Falefa has returned to the leadoff spot in recent games and has hit .269 in seven starts.  

And while the Rangers have struggled against Houston in recent years, Kiner-Falefa has done anything but that. With Friday’s 2-for-4 performance, the shortstop has reached base in every game against the Astros this season. Over 10 games against the Lone Star State rivals, Kiner-Falefa has gone 15-for-39 with two walks and three RBIs.  

“Kiner has been better for the last week or so,” Woodward explained. “I would say his swing is a bit better. His mentality has been better. He's going up there looking to do some damage and hit some rockets all over the field. He's been putting better swings on the ball right now.”