Rangers 7, Astros 4
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers continued their mastery of Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros on Thursday night, completing a three-game sweep of Houston with a 7-4 win.
The victory, the fourth-straight overall for Texas, was also the 11th in the last 13 meetings for the Rangers against Houston. The Rangers have also won 10 straight games against Houston at Globe Life Park.
The Rangers set the tone in the bottom of the first when Ian Desmond hit a three-run homer, his first with Texas, off Keuchel (2-2) to put the Rangers up for good at 3-1.
Texas tacked on another run in the second on an RBI-grounder from Delino DeShields and then pushed the lead to 5-1 on a triple from Elvis Andrus in the third.
Houston got a run back in the fourth against A.J. Griffin (2-0) on a homer from Colby Rasmus, but the Rangers kept scoring against Keuchel.
Keuchel allowed another run in the fifth on a Prince Fielder grounder. That scored Nomar Mazara, who doubled to open the frame.
Keuchel matched a career high by allowing 13 hits in his six innings and his ERA at Globe Life Park is 6.75.
Griffin (2-0) gave up just two runs on four hits in his six innings while striking out six.
Rasmus crushed a Tony Barnette fastball for a two-run homer in the eighth to cut the deficit to 7-4.
Texas closer Shawn Tolleson finished the Astros with his third save of the series and sixth of the season.
Adrian Beltre, who added a solo homer for Texas in the seventh, had three of the Rangers' 14 hits. Desmond, Nomar Mazara, Ryan Rua and Bryan Holaday each had two hits.
Houston had chances against Griffin early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a double from George Springer. But after allowing the double to Springer, Griffin didn't give up another hit until Rasmus homered to open the fourth.
NOTES: The Rangers put RHP Keone Kela on the 15-day disabled list with a bone spur in his right elbow and recalled RHP Phil Klein from Triple-A Round Rock to take Kela's roster spot. ... The Rangers have won 14 straight games started by LHP Cole Hamels. The only streak longer in franchise history is 15 games with Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins on the mound during the 1978-79 seasons. ... Texas RHP Yu Darvish threw his third live batting practice session on Thursday. ... Five home runs through 15 games for Tyler White are the most ever for Astros player. The 12 RBIs through 15 games is tied for third most. ... Astros SS Carlos Correa played his 114th game on Thursday night. No shortstop since 1913 has hit more homers in their first 113 games than Correa's 25.