Rangers 7, Astros 6
HOUSTON -- Second baseman Rougned Odor finished a double short of the cycle and sparked a ninth-inning rally that clinched the Texas Rangers’ 7-6 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
After the Astros (50-43) closed to within 5-4 with three runs in the eighth inning, all coming with two outs, Odor ignited a bench-clearing scrum when he exchanged words with Astros catcher Hank Conger.
When the dust had settled, Odor laced a leadoff triple to center field and scored when third baseman Adrian Beltre followed with a one-out single. Right fielder Josh Hamilton, who recorded three hits in his final three at-bats, added a double to score Beltre.
Conger answered in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run, opposite-field home run off right-hander Shawn Tolleson. But Tolleson recovered to record three consecutive outs and notch his 14th save for Texas (43-47).
Odor and Hamilton each finished 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Conger and shortstop Carlos Correa each drove in two runs for Houston.
The Rangers rolled to a 4-0 lead behind right-hander Colby Lewis (9-4), who gave up two runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings while striking out seven.
Given his sparkling career results against the Astros at Minute Maid Park, Lewis' utter dominance hardly registered as a surprise.
Lewis entered Saturday 6-1 with a 1.85 ERA in 12 appearances (nine starts) in Houston and, after surrendering a leadoff single to second baseman Jose Altuve in the first inning, settled into his usual routine.
Lewis retired three consecutive batters to close the first and left Altuve, who swiped second base, in scoring position. He followed by setting down the Astros in order in the second inning; and, after surrendering a leadoff single to first baseman Jon Singleton in the third, Lewis retired 12 consecutive batters through the sixth.
Things didn't go so swimmingly for Astros right-hander Scott Feldman, who returned from a 45-game injury hiatus and surrendered a pair of home runs. Feldman landed on the disabled list following right knee surgery in late May.
He danced around baserunners in the first and second innings, but Odor followed Delino DeShields' leadoff double in the third inning with a two-run home run to the upper deck in right field -- his ninth homer lifting Texas to a 2-0 advantage.
Feldman continued to labor, retiring the Rangers in order only once -- in the fifth. After right fielder Shin-Soo Choo boosted the Texas lead to 3-0 with a sacrifice fly that scored Hamilton in the sixth, Feldman surrendered a solo home run to catcher Robinson Chirinos. When DeShields followed with a single, Feldman was pulled.
Feldman (4-5) gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out two.
NOTES: Astros 1B Chris Carter should avoid a trip to the disabled list despite suffering a right ankle sprain on Friday night. Carter experienced a decrease in swelling on Saturday; and, while he will remain sidelined for the immediate future, his improved condition allows the Astros to keep him on the active roster. ... Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre played his 2,411th game at third base on Saturday night and is one game behind Graig Nettles (1967-88) for second in major-league history. Brooks Robinson played 2,870 games at third base for the Orioles (1955-77). ... To make room for RHP Scott Feldman on the 25-man roster, the Astros designated OF Alex Presley for assignment. Presley hit .244/.283/.342 with six home runs and 20 RBIs over two seasons (97 games) with Houston.