Rangers 4, Astros 3
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Houston starter Scott Kazmir wasn't exactly lit up Wednesday night, but the Texas Rangers did just enough to sweep the American League West-leading Astros with a 4-3 win at Globe Life Park.
Texas (54-53) won its four straight, the last three coming against its in-state rivals, and finished a 10-game homestand at 7-3. The Rangers also moved within five games of Houston (60-49) in the division.
The Astros dropped their road game in row.
The Rangers scored all four of their runs against Kazmir (6-6), though only one was earned. It was enough, however, to make a winner of starter Nick Martinez (7-6) on his 25th birthday.
Houston managed only four hits but drew a season-high eight walks. The Astros went 2-11 with runners in scoring position.
Texas has an off day before opening a series Friday at Seattle. Houston plays at Oakland starting Thursday.
Martinez was done after five innings, having allowed one run on one hit. The bullpen, initially, wasn't as effective.
The Astros scored two runs in the sixth against relievers Phil Klein and Sam Freeman, who combined to issue four walks in the inning.
With Texas clinging to a one-run lead, manager Jeff Banister turned to reliever Spencer Patton with the bases loaded and two outs. Patton got left fielder Jake Marisnick to fly out before working a clean seventh. Jake Diekman tossed a scoreless eighth.
The final Texas reliever, Sam Dyson, had to dance around the two runners he put on in the ninth before picking up his second save. Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson had the night off.
The Rangers got on the board with three runs in the first thanks to two Houston errors, including one by Kazmir, a walk and two hits. All the runs were unearned.
Texas got a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Prince Fielder and run-scoring singles from first baseman Mitch Moreland and shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Kazmir's ERA did take a hit in the second, as Rangers catcher Chris Gimenez drilled a home run to straightaway center to make it 4-0. The Gimenez solo shot matched the one earned run Kazmir allowed in July.
Houston got a run back in the fourth against Martinez. Third baseman Jed Lowrie doubled to center to bring home center fielder Carlos Gomez.
The Rangers gave outfielders Josh Hamilton and Shin-Soo Choo the night off at the start, though Choo pinch-hit in the seventh and remained in the game.
NOTES: Houston designated RHP Dan Straily for assignment and recalled RHP Asher Wojciechowski from Triple-A Fresno. Straily, who lost in a spot start against Texas on Tuesday, is expected to remain in the organization. He was 0-1 with a 5.87 ERA in three major league starts this year. Wojciechowski went 0-1 with a 7.31 ERA in four games (three starts) for the Astros earlier this year. ... Texas RHP Shawn Tolleson began the night with 20 saves since May 20. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 76 days it took him to go from one save to 20 is the fourth-fasted in major league history. ... Houston manager A.J. Hinch met with 1B Chris Carter regarding playing time: "His opportunities have thinned out, but he'll be back in there." ... Astros OF Preston Tucker (sore right triceps) was available Wednesday night. He was hit by a pitch in the arm Tuesday.