MLB GAME RECAP

Rangers halt Astros’ 10-game winning streak

The Sports Xchange

May 04, 2015 at 11:06 pm.

Robinson Chirinos' sac-fly gave the Rangers a 2-1 win over the Astros. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)

HOUSTON — Robinson Chirinos’ sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning drove in Adrian Beltre with the winning run and the Texas Rangers beat Houston 2-1 Monday night at Minute Maid Park, ending the Astros’ 10-game winning streak.

Beltre led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a single by Kyle Blanks with no outs. Pinch-hitter Rougned Odor struck out, but Chirinos hit a fly to medium center and Jake Marisnick’s throw home was wide of the plate.

Rangers reliever Keone Kela (2-1) picked up the win with a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Neftali Feliz earned his third save.

Texas left-hander Ross Detwiler made his best start of the season, throwing seven innings and allowing only four hits and one run. The Astros scored their only run off Detwiler without a hit in the first inning. Detwiler struck out seven, but one of his two walks in the first set up the Houston run.

Detwiler, who threw 105 pitches, didn’t last more than 5 2/3 innings in any of his first four starts of the year.

Astros starter Dallas Keuchel continued to mow down American League hitters, surrendering just one run on five hits through eight innings. Keuchel struck out eight, seven in the first three innings.

The Rangers tied the game in the top of the eighth when Delino Deshields walked, stole second and scored on Jake Smolinski’s line single to center.

DeShields replaced Leonys Martin who left the game in the sixth inning with a left wrist sprain.

Keuchel continued his impressive pitching, allowing only two hits through the first five innings and striking out seven. Texas did not have a fly ball out through five.

Martin appeared to injure his left wrist attempting to make a diving catch on a drive by Houston’s Jose Altuve in the bottom of the third inning. The ball hit the ground and Altuve ended up at second base with a double. A trainer stayed on the field with Martin for several minutes before Martin decided to remain in the game.

Martin left the game two innings later, replaced in center field by DeShields.

Keuchel, whose career high had been nine strikeouts, struck out the side in the second and third innings.

The Astros scored a run in the bottom of the first without a hit. Altuve walked to lead off, advance to second on a wild pitch, stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Evan Gattis.

Shin-Soo Choo, promoted to the leadoff spot in the Rangers’ lineup, opened the game with a double. But Keuchel, the American League’s pitcher of the month for April, retired Elvis Andrus, Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre in order to keep the Rangers off the board.

NOTES: The Rangers sent reliever Ramon Mendez to Triple-A Round Rock and called up RHP Spencer Patton. Patton had a 0.96 ERA in eight games with Round Rock, while Mendez had allowed runs in three of last four appearances. … The Rangers announced that RHP Logan Verrett has been returned to the New York Mets’ organization and assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas. The Rangers claimed Verrett off waivers from Baltimore on April 2 and he went 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in four games with Texas. He was designated for assignment April 24. … OF Josh Hamilton played his first game at the Rangers’ facility in Surprise, Ariz. Hamilton went 0-for-4 with three groundouts and reached on an error. He also played three innings in the outfield. … Rangers manager Jeff Banister moved RF Shin-Soo Choo into the leadoff spot in place of Leonys Martin, who hit eighth. It was the first time Choo had hit leadoff this season. Also, Adam Rosales made his second start at second base in place of Rougned Odor, who is hitting .148. … Astros 2B Jose Altuve was named American League co-player of the week, along with Oakland OF Josh Reddick. Altuve hit .467 (14-for-30) with five doubles, seven runs, eight RBIs and two stolen bases. … Houston LHP Dallas Keuchel was named AL pitcher of the month after compiling a 3-0 record and 0.73 ERA in five starts.

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