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Lewis, Fielder lead Texas Rangers over Astros 2-1

May 21, 2016 - 3:53 AM HOUSTON (AP) When Texas Rangers starter Colby Lewis took a glancing blow off the back of his head from a line drive in the seventh inning on Friday night he was not at all concerned about his health.

His only worry was getting the out on the play.

The Rangers did get that out and Lewis remained on the mound to wrap up seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.

Carlos Correa hit the line drive, which bounced off Lewis' glove that he had raised to his head. It hit the back of his head before sailing into the air where second baseman Rougned Odor grabbed it for the first out of the inning.

''When he got the out I was more pumped up at that situation,'' he said adding that felt fine. ''You shake that stuff off and go back to work.''

Prince Fielder provided the offense with a two-run double to help the Rangers snap a three-game skid.

''Colby did a great job,'' Fielder said. ''Anytime he's out there like that it's always good to get a couple of runs for him and he didn't need much help.''

Lewis (3-0) allowed four hits and struck out six in his first scoreless outing this season to pick up his first win since April 29. He had pitched well in his previous three starts but didn't factor into the decision in any of those games.

Though Lewis was unfazed by being hit in the head, everyone else was very concerned when it happened. Lewis said he had a bunch of texts from friends and relatives checking on him when he got to his phone in the clubhouse.

''Colby is a tough guy,'' manager Jeff Banister said. ''But we don't expect him to be so tough that he takes one off his nugget and continues to pitch. It's a scary moment when anybody gets hit.''

Jake Diekman struck out two in a perfect eighth and Sam Dyson gave up an RBI single to Colby Rasmus with two outs in the ninth before striking out Evan Gattis for his third save.

Shin-Soo Choo walked with one out in the third before Ian Desmond singled. Fielder sent them both home when his fly ball to left field sailed just over the head of 5-foot-6 rookie outfielder Tony Kemp for a double to make it 2-0.

''He made a good swing on a good pitch and hit the ball in the gap,'' Kemp said. ''I was close to it, almost threw out the runner at home but they got away with one.''

Houston starter Lance McCullers (0-1) yielded five hits and two runs with seven strikeouts in six innings in his second start of the season since coming off the disabled list.

The Rangers had a chance to pad their lead in the fourth when Elvis Andrus doubled with Nomar Mazara on first base. But Mazara was tagged out at home by catcher Jason Castro to end the inning.

NICE CATCH

Houston manager A.J. Hinch and bench coach Trey Hillman saved Texas catcher Bobby Wilson from crashing headfirst into the Astros dugout when he leaned too far over the railing trying to snag a foul ball in the first inning. Wilson was falling into the dugout, and both of his feet were off the ground when both men grabbed his shoulders and chest and pushed him back to his feet.

SKIPPER ON NEW STADIUM

Banister weighed in on plans for the Rangers' proposed new $1 billion retractable-roof stadium, which was announced on Friday and could be authorized by the Arlington City Council on Tuesday.

''We've got a nice house. We really do,'' he said. ''Yet the prospects of possibly having a house that with a retractable roof would be great for the fans, the experience, (we'd) never have to worry about losing a game ... to weather.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: OF Choo, who had been on the DL with a strained right calf since April 9, was activated before the game. He lasted just 2 1/2 innings Friday night before leaving the game with a tight left hamstring. Choo said the move was a precaution and he was feeling good after the game.

Astros: Hinch said OF Carlos Gomez, who is on the DL with a bruised left ribcage, could go on a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi early next week.

UP NEXT

Rangers: Cesar Ramos (0-2, 4.32) will make his third start and fifth appearance on Saturday. Ramos didn't factor in the decision in his last start against the Blue Jays after giving up seven hits and one run in 4 1/3 innings of a 7-6 win.

Astros: Mike Fiers (3-1, 4.63) is scheduled to make his seventh start of the season on Saturday. Fiers allowed six hits and two runs in four innings in his first relief appearance this year on Sunday in a 10-9 loss to the Red Sox.