Rangers 2, Astros 1
Nick Martinez allowed five hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings as host Texas edged Houston.
Robinson Chirinos homered and Daniel Robertson also drove in a run as the Rangers won for the 10th time in 11 games. Adrian Beltre and Jake Smolinski had three hits apiece and Neal Cotts allowed a run in the ninth before notching his second save.
Martinez (5-11) struck out five and walked none while winning his second consecutive start. Astros starter Brett Oberholtzer (5-13) allowed two runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings while losing his third straight outing.
Chirinos smacked a leadoff blast over the fence in center in the fourth for the game’s first run. J.P. Arencibia followed with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Robertson’s single to left-center field.
Houston’s run came in the ninth when Dexter Fowler walked, Jake Marisnick doubled and Matt Dominguez hit a sacrifice fly. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went 0-for-4 to drop his major league-leading average to .343, eight points ahead of Detroit’s Victor Martinez.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Fowler went 1-for-3 and is 10-for-25 during a six-game hitting streak. … The three-hit game was Beltre’s third in eight contests. … Houston 1B Jon Singleton struck out in both his at-bats and is hitless in 22 at-bats over his last nine games, fanning 18 times.