Rangers 5, Astros 4
A.J. Pierzynski hit a three-run homer and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot as host Texas took two out of three from Houston.
Nelson Cruz delivered a tiebreaking single in the fifth inning as the Rangers remained a half-game behind the Oakland Athletics in the American League West. Texas is 7-2 against the Astros this season.
Pierzynski’s first-inning homer off Erik Bedard (3-5) gave the Rangers a quick three-run edge and Houston got two of them back on Marc Krauss’ first major-league homer in the second. Beltre hit his homer in the third to make it 4-2.
The Astros recovered to tie the score before Cruz lined a single to left field in the fifth to put Texas back ahead.
Five Texas relievers combined to hold Houston to two hits and struck out seven over five innings. Cory Burns (1-0) was credited with the victory and Joe Nathan worked a perfect ninth for his 29th save in 30 opportunities.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Texas placed DH Lance Berkman (hip) and RHP Nick Tepesch (elbow) on the disabled list and activated RHP Joakim Soria (elbow) from the 60-day DL and recalled Burns from Triple-A Round Rock. Soria pitched a scoreless sixth in his first major-league appearance since 2011. … Bedard allowed five runs (four earned) and five hits in 6 1/3 innings, while Texas starter Justin Grimm gave up four runs (three earned) and six hits in four-plus innings. … RF J.D. Martinez had three of Houston’s eight hits.