Pirates 1, Rangers 0
Marlon Byrd and Pedro Alvarez delivered back-to-back two-out doubles in the seventh inning while rookie Gerrit Cole combined with two relievers on a four-hit shutout as visiting Pittsburgh took the opener of the three-game interleague series.
Andrew McCutchen recorded two hits for the Pirates, who halted a four-game skid and climbed within one game of idle St. Louis for first place in the National League Central. Pittsburgh improved to 82-61, guaranteeing its first winning season since 1992.
Elvis Andrus drew a two-out walk in the sixth and stole a pair of bases but was stranded at third. It was the best scoring chance of the contest for Texas, which fell two games behind idle Oakland for the top spot in the American League West.
Cole (7-7) halted a three-start winless streak, yielding three hits and walking two while recording a career-high nine strikeouts over seven innings. Tony Watson tossed a perfect eighth and Mark Melancon gave up a two-out single in the ninth before notching his 12th save.
Yu Darvish (12-8) was the hard-luck loser as he allowed one run and four hits in seven frames. The Japanese right-hander, who walked one and struck out six as his winless drought reached five outings, did not take the mound for the eighth due to cramping in his right leg.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Rangers LF Jim Adduci left the game after five innings with a right biceps strain. Adduci struck out in both of his at-bats before exiting. ... Alvarez's RBI double ended Darvish's interleague scoreless streak at 19 2/3 innings. ... The victory was Pittsburgh's first in seven all-time games at Texas. The Pirates are an NL-best 13-5 in interleague contests this season.