HOUSTON -- The Rangers headed into this week’s series against the Astros with sole possession of first place in the American League West for 78 straight days.

Losses on days No. 79 and No. 80 have put that streak at risk. The Rangers’ 4-3 defeat at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday continued to show just how razor-thin the margin between the two teams atop the division is.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, after Mitch Garver’s two-run homer pulled the Rangers to within one, Leody Taveras hit a 107.2 mph rocket to right field. It landed just inches away from the left-field seats and fell in the glove of Kyle Tucker, who had hit a home run near the same spot a few innings earlier at the same launch angle and seven mph slower off the bat than Taveras’ liner.

“Leo comes up there and smokes a ball,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Just a few inches and that ball is leaving the ballpark.”

Ezequiel Duran also smoked three lineouts straight to fielders, each of which was hit with an exit velocity over 100 mph and with hit probabilities of .610, .690 and .510.

But perhaps the closest call was made a few thousand miles away by the replay center in New York. Attempting to score on a double from first base in the ninth, Marcus Semien was initially ruled safe at the plate before the call was overturned on Houston’s challenge.

The lesson? Every single inch in this tight division race matters.

“They got it overturned, and last night we didn’t get [a play at home] overturned,” Bochy said. “That shows you what a fine line it is between winning and losing.”

The Rangers, who have lost their last three games against the Astros by one run, will try to avoid what would be a disastrous series sweep in Wednesday’s series finale. They’ll also have to reckon with Houston stars Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve returning from oblique injuries -- not to mention Astros ace Framber Valdez.

A loss would put the two teams in a tie at the top of the division and reset the “days leading the AL West outright” counter to zero.

Bradford gives the Rangers a boost
When Cody Bradford pitched for the first time at Minute Maid Park, he showed the college baseball world an early glimpse of his talent. In just his third start of his freshman year at Baylor, he collected eight strikeouts in a six-inning start against then-No. 11 Texas A&M in 2017’s Shriners College Classic.

Six years later, Bradford was back in the Astros’ ballpark, this time in the big leagues. The rookie left-hander followed opener Yerry Rodríguez and tossed five solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits.

Facing a lineup of all right-handed hitters and a lefty who hits better against southpaws in Tucker, Bradford blended his fastball (eight called strikes) and changeup (four whiffs and lots of weak contact) to keep the Astros off balance.

Bradford’s only blemishes were two solo shots allowed to Tucker and catcher Martín Maldonado. While the left-hander is still searching for a breaking ball that can play at the Major League level -- opponents have slugged .727 vs. his slider and 1.000 vs. his curveball -- Bochy was effusive in his praise of the rookie’s preparation and game planning.

Bradford also allowed the Rangers to reset their bullpen after all of their high-leverage options other than closer Will Smith pitched in Monday’s loss.

“[His outing] was big. It really was,” Bochy said. “He gave us exactly what we were hoping, what we needed. They touched him up a couple of times, but he did a really nice job.

“He’s got pitchability … He’s got a really good changeup, and [he’s] got savvy out there. But more than anything I can say about this guy, he’s so prepared, so competitive.”