Texas Rangers at Houston Astros

As surprised as many around baseball will be to wake up on Aug. 1 and see the Astros in first place in the American League West, those who have paid attention over the last decade should have known better. After falling 6 1/2 games out of first place when they were 20-31 on May 21, the Astros will begin the month of August in the same place they’ve been in seven of the previous eight seasons (not counting the shortened 2020 season) -- leading (or tied for the lead in) the division after crushing the Rangers, 11-2, for their fourth win in a row Friday night at Daikin Park. “It feels good,” shortstop Jeremy Peña said. “This team has battled very hard to get back in this position. This is not a time to let off the gas. It’s time to keep playing ball. There’s a lot of season left, and we know what can happen in two months. We’ve got to keep it going and play good baseball.” The Astros (56-55), winners of nine of their past 10 games, jumped the Rangers (55-55) and moved into sole possession of first place in the division for the first time since April 6, which was also the last time they were over .500. Houston also won the season series over its Lone Star State rivals, which gives the Astros the tiebreaker over the Rangers if they finish the season with the same record. “There’s still baseball to be played, but I think it’s important to recognize those guys in there,” manager Joe Espada said. “They all worked really, really hard to get to this point. We have battled injuries, some ups and downs, and they come to work every day with the right attitude, the right mindset. They’re tough; they stay together. I’m just proud of our effort. … We have to come back tomorrow and do it again and continue to do it.”