Rangers 5 - 6 Astros
Final
  for this game

Rangers try to extend domination of Astros

May 19, 2012 - 3:04 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers will look to continue their recent domination of the Houston Astros this evening when the two clubs play the middle contest of a three-game series.

The Rangers have won this series in each of the past three seasons, with Texas winning four of six meetings in 2011. The defending American League champions have won 15 of their last 19 against the Astros as well as nine of their last 10 in Houston.

Texas, which leads the all-time interleague series 38-29, took Friday's opener by a 4-1 margin, getting a solo homer and two RBI from Adrian Beltre. Michael Young and Nelson Cruz also drove in a run each as the Rangers rebounded from Thursday's extra-inning loss to Oakland.

Robbie Ross tossed 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings to snag the win for starter Neftali Feliz, who didn't make it out of the fifth, but scattered three hits and one run.

"He did as well as he could. He tried to go deep and tried to get it done, but it just wasn't there tonight," Rangers manager Ron Washington said about Feliz.

Jed Lowrie drove in the lone run for the Astros, losers in five of their last seven. Wandy Rodriguez was charged with 10 hits and three runs over six innings in the setback.

"Wandy pitched pretty good. He again gave us a quality start and was able to get through some things," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "Offensively, it was tough to get things mustered up."

Toeing the rubber for Mills tonight will be right-hander Lucas Harrell, who has dropped three of his past four decisions. That includes Monday's outing in Philadelphia as he gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-1 setback.

The outing left Harrell 2-3 with a 4.40 earned run average in eight starts and looking for answers.

"I'm out there competing trying to win for these guys," Harrell said on Houston's website. "These guys are fighting for me. We're scratching through games right now. I just have some frustration built up."

The 26-year-old will face Texas for the first time in his career and is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in two home starts this season.

Derek Holland will make his first start for the Rangers tonight since pitching in a doubleheader on May 10 versus the Orioles.

Holland gave up three unearned runs over six innings of a victory, marking the seventh time in as many starts this year that he has pitched at least six innings. He threw 63 of his 97 pitches for strikes, but Washington opted not to bring him back on three days' rest to start on Monday versus the Royals.

The 25-year-old lefty did appear in the game, tossing one inning of relief, and is 3-2 with a 3.78 ERA this season. Holland is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in two career meetings with the Astros.






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