Astros 3, Rangers 2
HOUSTON -- Right-hander Collin McHugh reached double figures in wins for a second consecutive season and the Houston Astros' bullpen held on for a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
McHugh (10-5) worked six uneven innings, setting the Rangers down in order only twice and giving up 11 hits. He needed a double play to erase shortstop Elvis Andrus' leadoff single in the second inning but struck out the side in the fourth.
Right-hander Luke Gregerson posted his 19th save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning as the Astros (50-42) snapped a six-game skid.
The Rangers (42-47) lost at Minute Maid Park for the first time this season after a three-game sweep the first week of May.
The Astros boosted their lead to 3-0 in the third on a run-scoring double to right field by second baseman Jose Altuve and an RBI single by shortstop Carlos Correa. Altuve was cut down at home while trying to score in a single to shallow center field by third baseman Marwin Gonzalez.
Rangers starter Martin Perez gave up three runs in his first start of the season and his first appearance with the Rangers since undergoing Tommy John surgery on May 19, 2014. He lasted five innings, allowing nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts on 86 pitches.
NOTES: Mired in an 0-for-11 slump, Rangers OF Shin-Soo Choo opened the second half of the season on the bench. Choo, who played in 80 of Texas' first 88 games, was hitting .157 over his last 24 games and just .221 overall, ninth lowest among American League qualified hitters. ... Astros INF Jed Lowrie is close to departing for a rehab assignment after a series of team workouts. Lowrie landed on the 15-day disabled list on April 28 with a torn ligament in his right thumb. ... Rangers C Carlos Corporan was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb. Corporan is batting .178/.244/.299 as the primary backup to Robinson Chirinos. C Tomas Telis was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock to replace Corporan.