Rangers 6, Astros 1
Rangers 6, Astros 1: Alex Rios knocked in one run and scored another for the second straight contest and Martin Perez tossed his first career complete game as visiting Texas ran its winning streak at Houston to eight games.
Perez (5-3), who struck out eight and walked two while allowing four hits, was one out away from a shutout before Chris Carter launched his 21st home run to left field. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel (5-7) also turned in his longest outing of the season, allowing six runs - five earned - in 8 2/3 innings.
The Rangers broke through in the fifth, when Geovany Soto's ground-rule double to left capped a string of three straight hits and plated Rios. Jurickson Profar added a two-run single in the ninth for the Rangers, who have won seven straight and 12 of 13 to maintain their one-game lead over Oakland in the American League West.
After driving in the tying run and scoring the go-ahead run in his Rangers debut Saturday, Rios went 2-for-4 in his second game with the club. Adrian Beltre also had two hits for Texas.
The Rangers knocked Keuchel out in the ninth, getting to him for four runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman. Leonys Martin followed Profar's two-run single with an RBI base hit to make it 6-0.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rangers sent INF Leury Garcia to the Chicago White Sox as the player to be named in the trade that brought Rios to Texas on Friday. … Texas has won 18 of the last 21 meetings in Houston and is 28-16 all-time at Minute Maid Park. … Astros SS Jake Elmore, who is filling in for injured rookie Jonathan Villar, committed his second error in two games. Villar (thumb) is expected to return to the lineup Monday.