Astros 10, Rangers 0
HOUSTON -- Left-hander Dallas Keuchel pitched seven shutout innings and recorded a career-best 13 strikeouts, undergirding a powerful offensive attack in the Houston Astros' 10-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday at Minute Maid Park.
Keuchel (12-4) retired the final 18 batters he faced and surrendered only two baserunners: a two-out double to Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder in the first inning and a bloop leadoff single to right fielder Josh Hamilton in the second. After Hamilton reached on his flare to shallow center, Keuchel allowed just one other ball out of the infield.
Following a pair of tense one-run affairs, the Astros (51-43) shelled Rangers right-hander Yovani Gallardo (7-9) to cruise to victory in the rubber match.
Shortstop Carlos Correa and designated hitter Evan Gattis both reached base in each of their first four plate appearances while third baseman Luis Valbuena recorded the first four-hit game of his career. Valbuena finished 4-for-5 with a double and four RBIs.
Correa opened the scoring off Gallardo with an RBI double in the third inning and scored when right fielder Colby Rasmus followed with a two-run home run, his 12th, to right field. Valbuena added two-run singles in the fifth and sixth innings before left fielder Preston Tucker jacked his sixth homer in the seventh, a two-run shot to left that scored second baseman Jose Altuve. Houston improved to 33-5 in multi-homer games.
The ample run support proved gratuitous. Keuchel did not issue a walk and struck out six consecutive batters between the fifth and seventh innings. He recorded just two called third strikes and baffled the Rangers (43-48) one night after Texas slugged three home runs.
NOTES: Astros RHP Vince Velasquez will start the series opener against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. Houston optioned Velasquez (0-1, 3.94 ERA) to Double-A Corpus Christi on July 7 to lessen his innings load. Velasquez participated in a throwing program while with the Hooks. ... Rangers RHP Nick Martinez will be recalled Monday from Triple-A Round Rock to start the series opener at Colorado. Martinez (5-5, 3.43 ERA) posted a 4.50 ERA over two abbreviated starts with the Express after he was optioned by Texas on July 2. His last start with the Rangers was a loss at Baltimore on July 1. ... Rangers LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-4, 4.07 ERA over 15 starts) will shift to the bullpen, providing Texas a second left-handed reliever alongside Sam Freeman.