Offensive explosion leads Rangers to sweep of Astros
HOUSTON -- The Rangers secured their first three-game sweep of the season by cooling down the Astros, 11-3, on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. The first-place Astros had won 10 in a row before losing three straight to Texas.
Rangers starter Colby Lewis held the Astros scoreless for seven innings before giving up a run in the eighth. He allowed six hits and a walk while striking out six for his first win since April 7. He had his 13-inning scoreless streak come to an end when he allowed the run in the eighth.
"This series shows that when the pitching and the hitting come together, this is the type of team we are all about," Lewis said. "It's fun to get that kind of run support, fill up the strike zone, use their aggressiveness against them and get quick outs." More >
Video: TEX@HOU: Lewis holds Astros to a run in eight innings
Astros starter Samuel Deduno, making his second start, allowed 10 runs (all earned) in 4 2/3 innings. He faced 27 batters and 14 reached base on 11 hits and three walks. The 11 hits included home runs by Carlos Peguero and Shin-Soo Choo.
"He really never got into the start, where he was in control of innings," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "Sam took one for the team to get us late in the game for our bullpen."
Video: TEX@HOU: DeShields produces Rangers' 10th run
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Peguero heats up: The Rangers are beginning to see from Peguero what they saw in Spring Training. He started a four-run rally in the second by hitting a first-pitch cut fastball for his second home run in two nights. He also had a two-out single in the third inning and scored on a double by Robinson Chirinos. In the fifth, Peguero drove in a run by delivering a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Peguero followed that up with another home run leading off the seventh inning. More >
Video: TEX@HOU: Peguero slugs two solo homer vs. Astros
Deduno loses command: It only took a few innings, but Deduno's chance at the Astros' fifth starting spot is likely gone. The long reliever-turned-spot-starter allowed six runs in the first three innings, including a back-breaking two-run homer to Choo in the second that gave Houston an early 4-0 deficit for the second straight game. He gave up 10 runs overall, just the 21st time in Astros history a starter has allowed that many runs in an outing. More>
Video: TEX@HOU: Chirinos' two-out double puts Rangers up 6
Beltre's big night: Adrian Beltre had his first three-hit night of the season, going 3-for-4 with a double and a triple. It's also the only the second time this season Beltre had two extra-base hits in one game. He had a double and a triple against the Astros on April 11.
Video: TEX@HOU: Beltre triple deflects off Marisnick's glove
Harris loses scoreless streak: Peguero's solo shot in the seventh snapped Astros reliever Will Harris' streak of 26 consecutive appearances and 28 2/3 innings without allowing a run. The streak, which began on Aug. 19, 2014, had been the longest active streak in the Majors.
Video: TEX@HOU: Peguero cranks second solo homer of the game
QUOTABLE
"Pretty awesome. They had won 10 in a row and were in first place. We have to feel good, getting out of our own bad start and winning these games." -- Peguero on the Rangers' sweep
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Rangers have hit a double in 26 straight games. That is tied for the second longest streak in club history. They had a double in 26 straight games in 1990 and 34 straight in 1996.
Video: TEX@HOU: Chirinos' double plates a pair of Rangers
WHAT'S NEXT
Rangers: The Rangers open a four-game series with the Rays at 6:10 p.m. CT Thursday with Nick Martinez on the mound. Martinez is 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA, and the Rangers are 5-0 with him on the mound.
Astros: The Astros head out west for a four-game stay in California against the Angels. Collin McHugh gets the nod for the Astros as he tries to halt the team's recent skid. He could be just the man for the job, since Houston has won all five games McHugh has started this season and his last 11 decisions overall dating to Aug. 12, 2014.
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