Astros 1 - 2 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Astros, Texas continue to play out the string in Arlington

Sep 23, 2014 - 2:56 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Someone forgot to inform the Texas Rangers that it's simply play-out-the-string time,

The red-hot Rangers will aim for their 10th win in 11 games on Tuesday night, when they host their in-state rivals -- the Houston Astros -- in game two of a three-game final week series at Globe Life Park.

A win in Monday's opener guaranteed the Rangers will avoid their first 100- loss season in 41 years, though Texas will still lose its most games since 1985.

Interim manager Tim Bogar is 10-6 at the helm since Ron Washington abruptly resigned.

"It puts a big smile on my face, just to know there's no three digits in our loss column," Bogar said. "But other than that, we know as an organization we're not a team that's a 100-loss team."

Texas has averaged 6 1/2 runs and compiled a .322 batting average in its last eight games.

Meanwhile, Houston's Jose Altuve boosted his chances to become the franchise's first batting champion with an RBI double that put his average at .345. He's 11 points ahead of the nearest pursuer.

His 220 hits are the most for a second baseman in 78 years.

Texas hands the ball to Nick Martinez, a rookie who's not won a game at home in eight starts while compiling a 0-6 record and a 7.28 earned run average.

He's not given up more than two earned runs in four straight starts, but has managed just one victory. That win came Thursday, when he tossed 5 2/3 innings of a 7-2 defeat of Oakland.

He allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings in Houston on Aug. 31 while getting a no- decision.

Lefty Brett Oberholtzer goes for the Astros after a tough-luck 2-0 loss to Houston on Wednesday in which he allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings, his longest stint of the season.

He had a 1.93 ERA in his first two meetings with Texas in 2014, but was ripped for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings while dropping a 13-6 verdict on Aug. 29.

On Monday, Guilder Rodriguez collected his first two major league hits, the last an RBI single in the seventh inning that provided the difference in the Rangers' 4-3 victory over Houston.

Roughned Odor had a three-run triple earlier for Texas.

Derek Holland (2-0) pitched into the eighth inning, allowing three runs -- two earned -- to record the win.

Nick Tropeano (1-2) pitched well in his third major league start for Houston, but was still saddled with the loss after being reached for four runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Robbie Grossman went 2-for-3 with a run scored for the Astros.

Houston is 11-6 versus the Rangers this season.






Related News