Rangers 2, Astros 1
Yu Darvish took a no-hitter into the eighth inning as visiting Texas finished a four-game sweep and ran its winning streak to eight games.
Darvish (12-5), who lost a perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning at Houston on April 2, retired the first 17 he faced Monday before walking Jonathan Villar with two outs in the sixth. Darvish fanned Robbie Grossman to end the frame before Carlos Corporan's solo home run spoiled it and the shutout bid with one out in the eighth.
The Rangers right-hander got the final two outs of the eighth and struck out a career-high 15. Joe Nathan completed the one-hitter with a perfect ninth to pick up his 35th save and help Texas maintain a one-game lead over Oakland in the race for first place in the American League West.
Texas got all it needed with two outs in the first when Adrian Beltre ripped an RBI double and A.J. Pierzynski followed with a run-scoring base hit against Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer (2-1). The Rangers have won 13 of 14 games after a 3-12 stretch and went 9-1 on their 10-game road trip to record the best winning percentage in team history on an excursion of at least seven games.
Oberholtzer (2-1) yielded two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings to get saddled with his first career loss. The Astros have lost six in a row and 10 of 11.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Darvish improved to 4-1 with a 1.31 ERA since coming off the disabled list July 22. ... Pierzynski was ejected by home plate umpire Ron Kulpa after Darvish issued the walk to Villar. Geovany Soto took over behind the plate. ... Astros LHP Wesley Wright was traded to Tampa Bay for cash considerations.