Rangers 14, Astros 3
ARLINGTON, Texas - Texas pounded Cy Young Award candidate Dallas Keuchel for nine runs as the Rangers ripped the Houston Astros 14-3 Wednesday night.
The win was the sixth straight for Texas over Houston, and it moved the Rangers 1 1/2 games ahead of Houston in the American League West race.
The Rangers wasted no time in getting to Keuchel (17-8), scoring six times off him in the first inning, with left fielder Mike Napoli hitting a three-run homer and second baseman Rougned Odor adding a two-run shot.
The home run was a theme of the night for Texas, which hit a season-high five, including three off Keuchel. Designated hitter Prince Fielder had two of the homers, including a solo shot off Keuchel in the third inning.
The Rangers knocked Keuchel out of the game with two runs in the fifth. The nine runs allowed by Keuchel were a career high. He gave up 11 hits in his 4 2/3 innings, and the three homers he allowed matched a career high.
While Keuchel struggled, Texas left-hander Martin Perez (3-5) scattered nine hits over his seven innings of work and gave up just one run.
Texas finished with 16 hits, with eight of the nine starters collecting at least one. Fielder finished with three hits and five RBIs after his second two-homer game of the season. Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo also had three hits.
Houston got three hits from designated hitter Evan Gattis, who hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
Keuchel was far from his dominant self as he did not make it out of the fifth inning.
After Texas scored six times against Keuchel in the first inning, Fielder led off the third inning with a homer.
Texas chased Keuchel with two more runs in the fifth.
NOTES: Houston RHP Luke Gregerson left the team to be with his wife, who went into labor. ... Houston OF Carlos Gomez missed a fourth consecutive game Wednesday because of intercostal discomfort. ... Astros INF Marwin Gonzalez returned to the lineup after missing two games with a swollen left index finger. ... Texas C Robinson Chirinos, who hasn't played since Sept. 9 because of a sore left triceps, played catch for a second straight day and will try and swing a bat Thursday. ... The Rangers will play Kansas City in exhibition games on March 18-19, 2016, in San Antonio. It marks the fourth straight year the Rangers have gone there for an exhibition series. ... With Texas facing LHP Martin Perez on Wednesday night, it marked the fifth straight game the Astros have gone against a left-handed starter. The last time that happened was in 1991.