Rangers 11, Astros 3
HOUSTON -- Colby Lewis helped the Rangers to their first three-game win streak of the season, leading Texas to a 11-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.
In eight innings, Lewis (2-2) gave up one run on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.
The Rangers (11-16) swept a series for the first time since last September, when their last sweep came against, coincidentally, the Astros. Houston (18-10) lost a season-high third consecutive game.
Left fielder Carlos Peguero powered Texas' offense. He hit his second and third home runs of the season, one day after hitting his first. It was the first multi-home run game by a Ranger in 2015.
Peguero's seventh-inning home run ended Astros' reliever Will Harris' stretch of 28 2/3 scoreless innings, which was the longest active streak in the majors. Peguero also scored in the third and knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Peguero and third baseman Adrian Beltre each had three hits for Texas. Peguero and catcher Robinson Chirinos knocked in three runs apiece.
Houston right-hander Samuel Deduno struggled early, allowing four runs in the second inning and two in the third.
Peguero hit the first home run of the night in the top of the second. Later in the inning, center fielder Delino DeShields hit an RBI groundout, and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo knocked a two-run home run to give the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
Texas continued to find ways to score in the third when Beltre hit a standup double, advanced on a flyout and then scored on Deduno's wild pitch. Three batters later, Chirinos ripped a line drive down the third base line for a double, scoring Peguero from first base, making it 6-0.
Astros fans began to boo with one out in the fifth inning when Deduno gave up another four runs. Peguero scored designated hitter Prince Fielder with a sacrifice fly, and Chirinos followed with a two-run double. Two batters later, DeShields scored Chrinos with a single, which promoted Astros manager A.J. Hinch to replace his pitcher.
Deduno allowed 10 runs on 11 hits and three walks with four strikeouts, two home runs and one wild pitch over 4 2/3 innings.
The Astros' ended Lewis' shutout bid in the eighth when second baseman Jonathan Villar singled home catcher Jason Castro. Houston first baseman Chris Carter knocked a two-run home run off reliever Spencer Patton with two outs in the ninth.
NOTES: Astros RF George Springer did not play a day after he crashed into the right field wall while making a catch. Team doctors looked at Springer before the game, but manager A.J. Hinch said Springer would be sent home to rest no matter the diagnosis. ... Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred met with the Rangers and the Astros during his visit to Minute Maid Park. Manfred said the two main topics discussed were pace of play and the marketing of players and the game. Other topics discussed with the 21 teams he has visited so far have included a 154-game schedule, changes to the draft and the potential reinstatement of Pete Rose. ... Astros star 2B Jose Altuve went 0-for-3 Wednesday on his 25th birthday. ... The Rangers completed a series sweep for the first time since Sept. 22-25, 2014, when they swept Houston.