Astros edge Rangers, halt 6-game skid
HOUSTON -- Collin McHugh held the Rangers to one run in six innings, despite giving up 11 singles, and the Astros' offense showed signs of life en route to a 3-2 win over the Rangers on Friday night at Minute Maid Park to snap a six-game losing streak.
"That was incredible to have that many hits and not really create any runs," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "For us, we pitched out of a few jams today. They swung the bats pretty well. We swung the bats very well early in the game, but that wasn't your typical 3-2 game. It was a very unique way to kick off the second half."
The Astros took a 1-0 lead against Texas starter Martin Perez in the second when Evan Gattis tripled -- his fifth of the season -- and scored on an L.J. Hoes single. The Astros strung together five consecutive hits to start the third, getting RBIs from Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa to take a 3-0 lead.
Video: TEX@HOU: Altuve doubles in Marisnick to extend lead
Perez, making his first appearance in a game since May 10, 2014, after undergoing Tommy John surgery, gave up three runs, nine hits and two walks in five innings for the Rangers, who have lost eight of their past nine games. More >
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
McHugh becomes McWhew: McHugh escaped trouble all game, with the exception of the fourth when he struck out the side. He worked six innings and scattered the 11 singles, which tied his season high for hits allowed. The Astros turned two double plays behind him and Jake Marisnick threw out a runner at second base.
Video: TEX@HOU: Marisnick throws out Odor at second base
"We got kind of fortunate they were all singles," McHugh said. "You get Prince [Fielder] on base first and then he clogs up the bases a little bit, I don't know. We made some good pitches when we needed to tonight to get out of some big innings. Our guys did a really good job of putting some runs on the board early, putting pressure on them from the get-go and ended up being a really good one." More
Four hits not enough: The Rangers had four singles in the first and didn't score. Rougned Odor singled with one out but was thrown out trying to turn it into a double. Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland all followed with singles. But Fielder had to stop at third on Moreland's sharp single to right and then Elvis Andrus grounded out to end the inning.
"We just didn't get the hits to unlock the runs," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. More >
Video: TEX@HOU: Andrus doubles in Moreland to cut the lead
Clutch hits lift Astros: The Astros were 0-for-20 with runners in scoring position in their previous four games, but they broke out of that funk with some clutch hits. Hoes scored Gattis from third with a single in the second, and back-to-back doubles by Marisnick and Altuve made it 2-0 in the third. Correa singled home Marwin Gonzalez from second base later in the inning. Houston wound up 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the game.
Video: TEX@HOU: Correa singles in Gonzalez to extend lead
"I thought the guys had great energy and we had good hits when we needed it," Hinch said.
Missed by that much: The Rangers' Josh Hamilton just missed a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth. With Moreland on first and one out, Hamilton hit a high drive to deep right field that Colby Rasmus snagged at the wall. His glove was right at the top of the wall when he made the catch.
Video: TEX@HOU: Rasmus makes a catch at the top of the wall
"I wasn't sure, but I thought since this was Houston, it might have a chance," Hamilton said.
Correa keep cool, closes out win: With Texas trailing by a run in the ninth and Prince Fielder at the plate with two outs, Correa knocked down a one-hop rocket by the big slugger and fired to first for the final out in Houston's 50th victory.
Video: TEX@HOU: Gregerson saves it on Correa's strong throw
"Composure and Carlos is never a problem --- in the box, on the bases, playing defense," Hinch said. "He fielded another ball up the middle off Fielder that was coming off pretty hot off his bat. Carlos is as cool as they come when it comes to competing in the big leagues." More >
Video: TEX@HOU: Hinch on 3-2 win to begin the second half
QUOTABLE
"It was just tonight. Let's not start talking about it and make it a big deal. It was just tonight." -- Designated hitter Prince Fielder, on the Rangers' lack of clutch hitting
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Rangers finished with 15 hits, the most they've ever had while scoring two or fewer runs in a game.
CARTER INJURED
Astros first baseman Chris Carter left the game in the second inning after suffering a sprained right ankle while trying to catch a throw from Altuve. Carter said the ankle was sore and swollen after the game, and he could be headed for the disabled list. More >
Video: TEX@HOU: Carter leaves the game after awkward landing
WHAT'S NEXT
Rangers: Right-hander Colby Lewis pitches for the Rangers at 6:10 p.m. CT on Saturday against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Texas will be wearing pale blue jerseys from the 1980s as part of Throwback Night,
Astros: Right-hander Scott Feldman makes his return from a 45-game stint on the DL. Feldman, who tore his right medial meniscus during a May 26 start against Baltimore, made two rehab starts for Double-A Corpus Christi, where he allowed four earned runs in a combined eight innings, striking out seven.
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