Final
Astros-Rangers Preview
Jun 26, 2010 - 5:40 AMVideo
Houston (28-45) at Texas (44-28), 3:05 p.m. EDT
The Texas Rangers' longest winning streak in 19 years is history. Now they can focus on avoiding their first series loss to the Houston Astros in exactly two years.
The AL West-leading Rangers look to even the series Saturday afternoon when the teams resume their three-game set in Arlington.
Texas (44-29) had its 11-game winning streak snapped Friday, losing 7-4 to Houston. It ended the longest winning streak in the majors this season and the longest for the Rangers since a franchise-record 14-game run in May 1991.
"They beat us," said manager Ron Washington, whose team has won 14 of 16. "We move on."
Despite the loss, Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton continued his torrid pace at the plate with three more hits. The two-time All-Star is batting .506 (39 for 77) with eight home runs and 25 RBIs during a career-best 19-game hitting streak.
Hamilton and the Rangers, who are looking to avoid their first series loss to Houston since June 24-26, 2008, will look to make Josh Banks' season debut a short one Saturday. Signed to a minor league deal in the offseason after spending the last two seasons with San Diego, Banks gets the start for Houston after Felipe Paulino was placed on the disabled list Thursday with right shoulder tendinitis.
Banks, who went 8-5 with a 2.97 ERA in 15 starts at Triple-A Round Rock, makes his first start against Texas. His last victory was June 30 versus Houston.
Banks will try to help the Astros (29-45) match a season-high four-game winning streak. A victory would also give Houston its first series win in Arlington since taking two of three from June 30-July 2, 2006.
The Astros, who need one victory in the next two games for their first series win in an AL ballpark since June 19-21, 2009, against Minnesota, could benefit from more solid hitting from Chris Johnson. The rookie third baseman had career highs with four hits and three RBIs on Friday, and he's batting .538 in three games since being called up from Round Rock on Tuesday.
"We've been playing well, so it was a big win for us," Johnson said after the Astros improved to 3-10 in interleague play Friday.
Astros right fielder Hunter Pence had an RBI double Friday and is batting .330 (29 for 88) in 22 career games against Texas. The Arlington native is 4 for 8 lifetime versus Saturday's scheduled starter C.J. Wilson (5-3, 3.41).
Making his first career start versus Houston following 10 relief appearances, Wilson did not get a decision in Sunday's 5-4, 10-inning win at Minute Maid Park, giving up four runs and six hits over seven innings. The left-hander did not allow a run in his final five frames.
"C.J. hung in there and the bullpen did a great job again," Washington told the Rangers' official website.
Texas has won Wilson's last four starts and eight of 10 games overall versus the Astros.
- Rangers 7, Astros 2 - FINAL
HOUSTON ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bourgeois cf 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 .400
J Keppinger 2b 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 .276
L Berkman 1b 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 .242
C Lee dh 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 .237
H Pence rf 3 1 0 0 1 0 5 .264
J Michaels lf 4 1 2 2 0 1 0 .244
C Johnso
Jun 26 6:03 PM - ML
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY ELVIS ANDRUS SCORED DAVID MURPHY AND NELSON CRUZ
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, E ANDRUS ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
TEXAS 7 BOTTOM,5TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.318, 1-FOR-3)
Astros 2, Rangers 7 Bot 5, 0 OutsJun 26 4:57 PM - ML
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY IAN KINSLER (2) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 4TH OFF JOSH BANKS SCORED MICHAEL YOUNG AND MAX
RAMIREZ.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2, TEXAS 5
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: V GUERRERO (.326, 1-FOR-1, BB, RBI)
Astros 2, Rangers 5 Bot 4, 0 OutsJun 26 4:33 PM - ML
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MAX RAMIREZ SCORED JUSTIN SMOAK
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M RAMIREZ ON SECOND, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2
TEXAS 2 BOTTOM,4TH
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: E ANDRUS (.286, 0-FOR-2)
Astros 2, Rangers 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsJun 26 4:26 PM - ML
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JASON MICHAELS (4) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT
IN THE 4TH OFF C.J. WILSON SCORED HUNTER PENCE.
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 2, TEXAS 1
DUE UP FOR HOUSTON: C JOHNSON (.333, 0-FOR-1)
Astros 2, Rangers 1 Top 4, 0 OutsJun 26 4:18 PM - ML
AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY VLADIMIR GUERRERO SCORED IAN KINSLER
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, V GUERRERO ON FIRST, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: HOUSTON 0
TEXAS 1 BOTTOM,3RD
DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J HAMILTON (.350, 0-FOR-0, BB)
Astros 0, Rangers 1 Bot 3, 0 OutsJun 26 4:06 PM
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