Prince Fielder's power brings Astros closer into Rangers' orbit
— -- ARLINGTON, Texas - While still respected, Prince Fielder is no longer among the feared sluggers in Major League Baseball. He hasn't hit 30 homers since 2012, and the 18 homers he had entering Monday night's game against the Houston Astros tied him with seven other players for 29th in the American League.
Just so you know, he had just one homer in the previous 31 games, none in the past 11.
But Fielder showed relief pitcher Will Harris that he can still turn on a fastball thrown too close to his wheelhouse.
Fielder's two-run, eighth-inning homer to left center field propelled the Texas Rangers to a 5-3 win and moved them within a half-game of Houston for first place in the American League West after the first game of this four-game series. The Rangers lead the Minnesota Twins by one game for the second wild card.
