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Astros continue Texas tussle with Rangers

Aug 9, 2014 - 2:00 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Houston Astros began their Lone Star State weekend set in thrilling fashion on Friday night and will try to keep their momentum going at Minute Maid Park on Saturday against the Texas Rangers.

The Astros snapped a seven-game losing streak in the first game of the series, coming from behind with a three-run eighth inning on their way to a 4-3 victory.

Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, Robbie Grossman's two-run home run put Houston ahead, and an RBI double by Gregorio Petit tacked on a crucial insurance run.

Chad Qualls allowed a run in the ninth but managed to entice the game-ending double play for his 13th save.

Jose Veras (2-0) earned the win with a scoreless eighth inning after Brett Oberholtzer impressed as the starter, allowing two earned run in seven innings.

Chris Carter belted his 25th homer of the season, his third in the last two games.

Jose Altuve, the Major-League leader in hits, had to leave the game with neck discomfort and is considered day-to-day.

Spoiling a strong start by Miles Mikolas (5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER), Neal Cotts (2-6) was saddled with the loss after allowing all three eighth-inning runs.

J.P. Arencibia stroked a two-run bomb in the first inning, his eighth of the season.

The Rangers will send their ace to the hill on Saturday. Despite his team's poor season, Yu Darvish has held up his end of the bargain by going 10-6 with a 2.82 ERA while racking up 175 strikeouts in just 140 1/3 innings.

Darvish was outstanding his last time out despite a no-decision, yielding just four hits, two walks and an earned run over seven innings of work with eight strikeouts against Cleveland on Aug. 3.

The Japan native, who turns 28 on Aug. 16, is 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts versus the Astros this season.

The Astros will respond with Scott Feldman, who's 5-8 on the campaign with a 4.13 ERA.

Feldman put his mediocre season to the side in his latest outing on Aug. 3 with his first complete game of the season (third of his career), allowing eight hits and one run in a win over the Blue Jays.

"The cutter was really working," Astros' manager Bo Porter said of his hurler. "He was able to get in on lefties and just had that late life to his fastball. He was sinking it away and did a really good job today."

Feldman has a pair of no-decisions in two starts against the Rangers this season, having allowed four earned runs over 12 innings of work (3.00 ERA).

The 'Stros are 7-3 against the Rangers this season.