HOUSTON -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch had maintained an admirable level of optimism despite the seemingly endless string of agonizing losses to the Rangers, never showcasing any underlying frustration that surely accompanied the myriad methods in which Texas repeatedly uncovered to defeat his ballclub.On Tuesday night, his frustration was palpable and unmistakable. The Rangers rallied for two runs off Astros closer Ken Giles with two outs in the ninth inning to steal a 3-2 victory in the penultimate game between the in-state rivals this season. It was the Astros 15th loss in 18 meetings with Texas (87-59) this season and the Rangers 23rd win in the series over the last 28 games dating to Aug. 3, 2015.Last season, the Rangers chased down Houston and swiped the American League West title in the final weeks of the season. On Tuesday night, Texas dropped the Astros 4 1/2 games out of the AL wild card picture, devastating their playoff hopes by tossing another close victory on a pile that appears set to collapse on top of Houston.The reality is we have a lot of pride in our clubhouse, Hinch said. We have a lot of intensity, competitiveness. We have a lot of winning players. To follow the narrative of theres a doomsday coming is just not going to be accepted. Its not going to be how it is. They came out and beat us by putting together a really good ninth inning against a really good pitcher and no more than that.We cant remake or replay the games that weve faced these guys. But to concede or think that something bads going to happen is garbage. Thats not going to happen.The Astros (75-70) close their season series against Texas on Wednesday night with rookie right-hander Joe Musgrove (2-4, 4.78 ERA) on the mound. Of his seven starts this season, Musgrove has faced the Rangers twice already, allowing six runs on 13 hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings. Musgrove is 0-1 against Texas.Texas, 9 1/2 games up on the Mariners in the AL West, has started preparations for the postseason. The first step came late Tuesday night when Rangers manager Jeff Banister adjusted his rotation by naming left-hander Derek Holland (7-7, 4.74 ERA) the starter for the series finale.Holland, bumped to the bullpen over the weekend following the return of right-hander Colby Lewis, did not make an appearance as a reliever. He was set to piggyback right-hander A.J. Griffin on Tuesday night, but Griffin pitched exceptionally while working seven strong innings against the Astros. Holland instead will replace right-hander Yu Darvish, who will slot behind lefty Cole Hamels this weekend against the Athletics. That series starts Friday in Arlington.Cause thats where we want Darvish to pitch, Banister said when asked about the change. This is my decision to pitch Derek (on Wednesday).Holland is 5-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 12 career starts against the Astros, 2-0, 3.27 in two starts against them this season. Wholesale Authentic Jerseys . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Jerseys Wholesale . LeBron James and Chris Bosh didnt need any more. Williams scored 11 points in 10 minutes, Alan Anderson scored 17 points, and the Brooklyn Nets finished the exhibition season with a 108-87 win over the Miami Heat on Friday night. http://www.jerseyswholesalesoccer.com/ . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Cheap Soccer Jerseys China . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. Jerseys Soccer China . LOUIS -- St. NEW ORLEANS -- If the man accused of murdering former Saints standout Will Smith is going to take the stand in his own defense, Saturday will probably be the day, now that the prosecution has rested its case.Cardell Hayes is claiming he shot and killed Smith in self-defense on the night of April 9, after a heated argument ensued between their two parties following a pair of traffic incidents.On Friday, the prosecutions fourth and final day of testimony included experts who testified that Hayes intentionally crashed into Smiths vehicle and that evidence did not support the theory that Smith was reaching into his car at the time he was shot. After the prosecution finished, the defense began presenting its case Friday afternoon.The prosecution finished its case by calling former New Orleans police captain Billy Ceravolo, a close friend of Smiths who became a highly publicized figure in the weeks after Smiths shooting when defense attorney John Fuller suggested Ceravolo might have tampered with evidence at the crime scene.Ceravolo adamantly denied those claims Friday and was critical of his reputation being sullied so publicly. The state had earlier shown video evidence that proved Ceravolo was not on the scene at the time of the shooting. Ceravolo was called to the scene afterward by Saints running back Pierre Thomas, a mutual friend of Smiths and Ceravolos who was out with them that night.Ceravolos possible involvement continued to be debated as the defense began its case with a private investigator, David Olasky, who testified about a female witness who told him she thought she saw Ceravolo reach across Smiths body toward the glove compartment and pull out what she thought was a gun. The state, however, got the detective to acknowledge that the witness was wrong about Ceravolo being there at the time.Some things about her story were true, some things she might have gotten wrong or confused. ... [But] I believe she saw someone removing something from the area of the glove box, Olasky said.The defense also called a crime lab deputy, Madelyn Collins, to testify that gunshot residue was found on Smiths hands, explaining it could possibly have come from firing a gun, from being near a gun when it was discharged, or from touching a gun that had been discharged. The state, however, had her specify that she found only two particles on the back of each hand and one on the left palm -- for a total of five particles?-- but none on the right palm, and that its possible residue could come from a gun being fired intto his vehicle.ddddddddddddThe defense has been hinting at the possibility that Smith might have held or fired a gun that was removed or moved at the scene, though Olasky is the only one to testify about anyone having seen such activity.Homicide detective Bruce Brueggeman testified Thursday that Smiths gun was found holstered with the safety on, wedged between the drivers seat and the center console.The defense finished the day by calling character witnesses who described Hayes calm demeanor earlier that night.Perhaps the most impactful testimony Friday came from the two expert witnesses at the beginning of the day, according to multiple media accounts.Car crash expert Michael Sunseri says he put the blame for the crash squarely on Hayes, though the defense challenged Sunseris conclusions based on black box data from the Hummer and Smiths Mercedes SUV. Defense attorney Jay Daniels suggested Hayes might not have been paying attention and thus hit Smiths vehicle by accident.Also, Dr. Samantha Huber, the chief forensic pathologist for the Orleans Parish Coroners Office, testified that the first shot hit Smith from a level angle and into his left side, which indicates he wasnt reaching into his car for a gun as the defense has suggested.Smith was shot a total of eight times, first in the side and the next seven in the back as his body wound up slumped across the drivers side of his vehicle. Before that, his wife, Racquel, was shot through both legs while she was in close proximity to her husband, trying to pull him away from the heated argument, according to multiple witnesses.The defense is claiming that Smith had either threatened to get his own gun or had already retrieved it before Hayes began shooting at him. Multiple witnesses for the prosecution claimed that Smith and Racquel were walking away after she had successfully calmed him down.The defense is claiming that Smith and members of his party were acting as the aggressors in the confrontation that followed Hayes crashing into Smiths vehicle. Huber also confirmed that Will Smiths blood-alcohol level registered at .235 percent, nearly three times the legal driving limit, which had been previously reported.Racquel Smith left the courtroom briefly, audibly sobbing, while the pathologist was describing each of the gunshot wounds that Smith suffered and the damage they caused.The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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