Rangers 5 - 4 Astros
Final
  for this game

Rios helps Texas top Houston in Rangers debut

Aug 11, 2013 - 5:48 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Alex Rios wasted no time making a good impression on his new teammates.

With Texas trailing by a run entering the eighth inning, Rios tripled home Engel Beltre to tie the game. Rios then beat Jose Altuve's throw to the plate on a Mitch Moreland grounder to score the winning run as the Rangers edged the Houston Astros, 5-4, in the second of a four-game set at Minute Maid Park.

Rios was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Friday for a player to be named later and cash considerations. He finished 2-for-3 in his Texas debut.

"It gives me a little bit of confidence and motivation," Rios said. "Everybody in this clubhouse wants to win. Any way any of us can contribute is a big thing. It's a big thing for me."

Elvis Andrus cracked his first homer of the season, a two-run blast to left in the seventh, and A.J. Pierzynski added a solo blast for the Rangers, who have won six straight and 11 of their last 12 games overall.

Jason Frasor (3-2) earned the win despite giving up a run in the seventh inning and Joe Nathan worked a scoreless ninth to nail down his 34th save of the season.

Lucas Harrell (5-13) was pegged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run.

The Astros jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. With one on and two out, Altuve ripped a double to center field to score L.J. Hoes.

Chris Carter crushed a tape-measure shot over the train tracks in left field to open the fourth, giving Houston a 2-0 edge.

Pierzynski's solo shot in the sixth made it 2-1, but Matt Dominguez's sacrifice fly in the home half made it a two-run game.

Jurickson Profar reached on Jake Elmore's fielding error in the seventh and three batters later Andrus clobbered a two-run shot to left to tie the game.

"When you give a team extra outs, especially a team that has a good offense like the Rangers, you put yourself at more risk of giving up runs," Houston manager Bo Porter remarked.

Brandon Barnes scored on Frasor's wild pitch in the seventh to put Houston back on top.

Game Notes

Texas was just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... Texas starter Derek Holland was charged with three runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out six and walked two ... Houston pitcher Brad Peacock gave up a run on three hits in six innings ... Andrus homered for the first time since Sept. 4, 2012 ... Houston was 1-for-8 with RISP ... Carter has 20 homers this season ... Game time: 3:26.






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