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Jun 19, 2010 - 5:08 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Texas (38-28) at Houston (26-41), 7:05 p.m. EDT

A two-year stint playing in Japan might have helped Colby Lewis' performance on the mound, and even at the plate.

Seeking a third straight win, Texas' multi-talented right-hander tries to help the visiting Rangers extend their season-high winning streak to seven games Saturday night against the Houston Astros.

After toiling for five seasons with Texas, Detroit and Oakland, Lewis (6-4, 3.30 ERA) has been a pleasant surprise for the AL West-leading Rangers (39-28) after spending the past two years with Japan's Hiroshima Carp.

Lewis went 26-17 with a 2.82 ERA in Japan, and also hit five home runs. He's been able to carry over that success in both areas in his return to the majors.

He's given up three runs, seven hits and struck out 15 in 15 innings while winning his last two outings. Lewis allowed two runs and three hits while striking out 10 in eight innings of a 7-2 win at Milwaukee on Sunday.

Lewis, the first Rangers pitcher with at least four 10-strikeout games since Nolan Ryan in 1991, also went 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

"The last two years, I was able to swing the bat kind of like a National Leaguer over there in Japan," said Lewis, who had one major-league at-bat heading into that contest. "I feel like it was a little bit of an advantage just to see a lot of pitches, just getting at-bats in Japan."

Lewis, 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in interleague play this season, can again show off his versatility in his first start against Houston. He allowed one hit in 4 1-3 scoreless innings of relief versus the Astros.

Texas improved to 6-1 on its nine-game road trip with a 9-3 win Friday over the Astros (26-42) in the first of the six-game Lone Star series. The Rangers have won six straight on the same trip for the first time since May 21-26, 1991.

"It was a great night for everyone," said Rangers rookie first baseman Justin Smoak, who hit his seventh home run and drove in four runs.

Josh Hamilton went 3 for 5 with two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. The All-Star is hitting .463 with 21 RBIs in during his streak. He's lifetime .351 hitter versus the Astros, who've lost six of seven overall and against Texas.

Houston's starting pitchers have given 38 runs over 38 innings in the last seven games. Brian Moehler (0-3, 6.32) looks to buck that trend Saturday.

The right-hander is 0-2 with an 8.20 ERA in four starts since joining the rotation. He allowed four runs and five walks in 4 2-3 innings of a 9-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Moehler is 9-10 with a 3.92 ERA in 30 interleague starts.

Though Houston is 2-8 in interleague play, right fielder Hunter Pence is batting .324 with eight RBIs against the AL. He's a lifetime .355 hitter against the Rangers after going 2 for 4 on Friday.