The Rangers did get that out and Lewis remained on the mound to wrap up seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Colby Rasmus gave Houston its first hit since the fourth inning with a single after that, but Bush retired Tyler White to end the threat.
Advertisement
“We’ve had our trouble scoring the last few games, really putting any sort of offense together”, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He does a lot of first-pitch strikes”. Sam Dyson pitched a flawless ninth for his fourth save and second in two games. In games decided by one run, the Astros are 5-9.
“We’re trying to go out there put the ball in play and hit the ball hard”, Houston shortstop Carlos Correa said. I’m doing it to myself and that’s just the way it’s going right now. The Rangers expect to have outfielder Shin-Soo Choo back from the DL this weekend, and Rougned Odor is still in the appeals process stemming from his suspension, so until that is completed, he will be in the lineup.
“He made a good swing on a good pitch and hit the ball in the gap”, Kemp said. “Before that seventh inning, got a little exhausted”.
Fiers (3-1, 4.63 ERA) has been up and down this season and was needed in relief Sunday when he tossed four innings and allowed six hits and two runs in a 10-9 defeat at Boston.
“I feel healthy, my knee feels good, I’m just feeling good out there”, he told MLB’s official website.
The Rangers had a chance to pad their lead in the fourth when Elvis Andrus doubled with Nomar Mazara on first base. The Astros went ahead at 1-0 in the first inning on April 21, and the Rangers scored three runs in their half. Wilson was falling into the dugout, and both of his feet were off the ground when both men grabbed his shoulders and chest and pushed him back to his feet.
Choo was a significant factor for the Rangers last season but has six weeks with a strained calf. He lasted just 2 1/2 innings Friday night before leaving the game with a tight left hamstring.
Advertisement
Astros: OF Carlos Gomez (bruised left ribcage) is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday. His two-out shot to left field off Astros right-hander Mike Fiers (3-2) in the second inning provided Texas a 1-0 lead. He allowed five hits and two runs – one earned – in his longest start this season to lower his ERA to 2.83. If he comes out of that OK, he’ll make his first major league start since August 9, 2014 on Saturday against Pittsburgh after missing all last season following his surgery. Last year’s AL Cy Young Award victor is 0-4 with a 7.31 ERA since tossing eight scoreless frames in a win over Detroit on April 15, giving up at least five runs four times during that stretch.
