Final
Rangers avoid sweep in Houston
Aug 11, 2014 - 1:04 AM Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Shin-Soo Choo and Adrian Beltre both hit solo home runs as the Texas Rangers topped the Houston Astros, 6-2, in the finale of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.The Rangers avoided a sweep, finished up a 3-6 road trip and saw starter Nick Martinez pick up his first victory since May 24.
Martinez (2-8) held Houston to two runs on five hits, and three relievers behind him combined to pitch four innings of one-hit ball.
"I don't blow anybody by, I'm not one of those guys that can throw it upper 90s," Martinez said. "I really have to locate, and if I can make hitters feel uncomfortable by feeling up in the zone I think that will work to my strengths."
Houston had won seven in a row against its AL West foes but could not overcome Dallas Keuchel (10-8) giving up a season-worst tying five runs.
"They were just hacking, and they found some holes and hit some balls hard," said Keuchel. "I'm not going to change anything. We just got our butts whooped today."
The Astros had runners on the corners and no outs in the first inning and only pushed one run across on Chris Carter's fielder's choice ground ball.
Jose Altuve scored in the third inning when he was hit by a pitch, stole second and raced home on Jason Castro's single, but that was the Astros' only hit with a runner in scoring position all game.
Alex Rios doubled in a run in the fourth and scored the tying run on Adam Rosales' base hit. Rios' slide at the plate knocked the ball away from Carlos Corporan, but he aggravated an ankle injury on the play and did not return.
Texas went ahead for good in the fifth, which began with Robinson Chirinos doubling to center field. Chirinos moved to third on a Dan Robertson single and scored on a wild pitch, and Robertson raced home on Elvis Andrus' sacrifice fly.
Beltre led off the sixth with his 17th home run of the year, and Choo opened the next frame with an opposite-field blast off Jose Veras.
Roman Mendez pitched a scoreless sixth, Shawn Tolleson retired all six batters he faced and Neftali Feliz worked a 1-2-3 ninth to finish things off.
Game Notes
Texas had dropped 16 of its previous 17 games against division opponents ... The Astros had their five-game home winning streak snapped ... Keuchel gave up six hits and three walks in his six innings of work.
- TEXAS: 6
HOUSTON: 2
Final
Aug 10 5:21 PM - Shin-Soo Choo lead-off Home Run (11) to left. Elvis Andrus due up.
Rangers 6, Astros 2 Top 7, 0 OutsAug 10 4:39 PM - Adrian Beltre lead-off Home Run (17) to left. J.P. Arencibia due up.
Rangers 5, Astros 2 Top 6, 0 OutsAug 10 4:05 PM - Elvis Andrus sacrifice fly out to center scored Dan Robertson with two out. None on and Jim Adduci due up.
Rangers 4, Astros 2 Top 5, 2 OutsAug 10 3:43 PM - Elvis Andrus out on a sacrifice fly to deep left center field to Jake Marisnick. Daniel Robertson scores.
Rangers 4, Astros 3 Top 5, 1 OutAug 10 3:42 PM - Robert Chirinos scored on a wild pitch by Dallas Keuchel with none out. Dan Robertson advances to third on a wild pitch. Runner on third and Shin-Soo Choo at the plate.
Rangers 3, Astros 2 Top 5, 0 OutsAug 10 3:41 PM - Adam Rosales singled to short scoring Alex Rios with two out. On the play, Adam Rosales advances to second. Runner on second with two out and Leonys Martin due up.
Rangers 2, Astros 2 Top 4, 2 OutsAug 10 3:28 PM - Adam Rosales singles to left field, advances to 2nd. Alex Rios scores.
Rangers 2, Astros 3 Top 4, 2 OutsAug 10 3:26 PM - Alex Rios doubled to center scoring Elvis Andrus with none out. Runner on second and Adrian Beltre due up.
Rangers 1, Astros 2 Top 4, 0 OutsAug 10 3:22 PM - Alex Rios doubles to deep left center field. Elvis Andrus scores.
Rangers 1, Astros 3 Top 4, 0 OutsAug 10 3:22 PM - Jason Castro singled to left scoring Jose Altuve with two out. Runner on first and Jonathan Singleton due up.
Rangers 0, Astros 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsAug 10 3:14 PM - Jason Castro singles to left field. Jose Altuve scores.
Rangers 0, Astros 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsAug 10 3:14 PM - Chris Carter reaches on a fielder's choice to third base. Jose Altuve out at second. Robbie Grossman scores.
Rangers 0, Astros 2 Bot 1, 0 OutsAug 10 2:26 PM - Chris Carter grounded into a fielder's choice, third to second scoring Robbie Grossman with one out. On the play, Jose Altuve out at second. Runner on first and Jason Castro due up.
Rangers 0, Astros 1 Bot 1, 1 OutAug 10 2:26 PM
Aug 10 2:14 PM- TEXAS: 0
HOUSTON: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 10 2:14 PM
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