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Rangers, Astros resume set in Houston

Jun 29, 2011 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to continue their mastery of the Houston Astros this evening when the Lone Star State rivals resume a three- game set at Minute Maid Park.

The Rangers have won four straight Silver Boot trophies, awarded annually to the victor in the interleague matchup between the two clubs each year. It hasn't been much of a rivalry, though, lately, as Texas took two of three from the Astros earlier in the year and has won the season series in each of the last two years by a 5-1 margin, while compiling a 13-3 mark against their in- state rivals since the start of the 2009 campaign.

Texas, which has also won seven in a row in Houston, moved one step closer to locking up the trophy on Tuesday, as Ian Kinsler went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a triple to lead the Rangers to a 7-3 win.

Josh Hamilton and Mitch Moreland also blasted solo home runs while Yorvit Torrealba added an RBI double for the Rangers, who have won six of their past 10 contests overall.

C.J. Wilson (8-3) worked seven strong innings to earn the win, giving up a pair of runs on seven hits while fanning three and walking two. In addition to his work on the mound, Wilson also ripped a triple.

Michael Bourn had a pair of hits, including a triple, for the Astros, who have lost four games in a row and seven of their last eight. Houston has also lost seven in a row at home and another loss tonight would give the Astros their first eight-game skid there since a franchise-record 11-game slide July 23- Aug. 17, 1966.

Jordan Lyles (0-3) worked six innings in defeat for Houston, giving up five runs on 10 hits.

"It just didn't fall my way tonight," Lyles said. "I don't know what the ball- strike ratio was tonight, but it couldn't have been good."

Getting the call for the Rangers tonight will be righty Colby Lewis, who is 6-7 with a 4.44 ERA. Lewis was terrific last Wednesday against the Astros, scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings. He didn't get a decision in that 5-3 loss, though.

Lewis has faced the Astros six times (three starts) and is 1-1 with a 1.78 ERA.

Houston, meanwhile, will rely on veteran Brett Myers, who also received a no- decision against Lewis and the Rangers his last time out. Myers gave up two runs and six hits in six innings of that one. He is 3-6 on the year with a 4.65 ERA.

Myers has yet to receive a decision in two starts versus the Rangers, but has pitched to a lofty 7.88 ERA in those outings.