Rangers 8, Astros 3
Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer to key a five-run sixth inning and Justin Grimm pitched six innings to win his major league debut for host Texas.
Craig Gentry and Ian Kinsler led off the sixth with back-to-back base hits against Lucas Harrell (6-5), and Michael Young reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases with one out. Adrian Beltre delivered a two-run single to left field, and Cruz sent the next pitch over the wall in left-center field to give the Rangers a 5-3 lead.
Grimm (1-0) fell behind early, giving up a first-inning solo homer to Jed Lowrie, but he retired 10 of the next 11 hitters, including a run of five strikeouts in a row. The rookie gave up three runs on six hits and struck out seven without a walk.
Kinsler singled home a run in the seventh inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Young.
An RBI double by Justin Maxwell and a run-scoring single by Jordan Schafer in the fifth gave the Astros a 3-0 edge before the Rangers began their surge an inning later. Houston loaded the bases against Mike Adams in the eighth inning but failed to score.
Harrell allowed five runs and seven hits in his 5 1/3 innings, with five of those coming in the pivotal sixth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Grimm became the 11th pitcher in major league history to strike out seven or more hitters in his first start without walking a batter. ... Grimm also became the first player in Rangers history to record five consecutive strikeouts in his debut. ... Houston LF Carlos Lee is slated to return to the lineup Sunday after spending 15 days on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.