Nothing cures your problems like a trip to Houston, especially if you are the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers try to continue their dominance over their Lone Star State rivals on Tuesday when they resume a three-game series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Texas was 17-2 against the Astros last season, and have won three of four against them this season. That trend continued in Monday's opener, as Colby Lewis struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings and the Rangers rolled to a 4-0 win.
Lewis (3-2), who lasted just 3 2/3 innings in his last outing after giving up 12 hits and seven runs against Colorado, was much better in this one. The veteran righty moved a game above .500 for his career after holding Houston scoreless on seven hits.
Rougned Odor and Adrian Beltre both finished with two hits, a home run and two RBI for Texas, which snapped a brief two-game skid and won for only the third time in its last eight games. Odor, a 20-year-old native of Venezuela who made his debut with the club less than a week ago, recorded both his first major league home run and RBI.
"It's always nice to contribute and help your ball club win ball games," said Beltre. "I need to be doing that more often."
Jose Altuve went 3-for-5 while Matt Dominguez and George Springer had two hits apiece for Houston, which saw starter Brad Peacock (0-4) allow four runs on eight hits over six innings of work. Peacock also recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts.
"That was the best I've felt in a long time," Peacock said. "I was able to throw my fastball wherever I wanted for the most part. I've been working hard, just have to do a little better job next time."
It won't get any easier for the Astros on Tuesday, as they go up against lefty Matt Harrison, who is coming off a superb outing his last time out. Harrison held the Rockies scoreless over 5 1/3 innings on Thursday for his first win of the season and lowered his ERA to 2.87.
"There's still room for improvement, but it's getting better every time," Harrison said. "I've got to keep working. Hopefully there is more there than the last time. I'm still tinkering, but I'm getting closer to where I want to be. I'm still trying to get everything back into rhythm."
Harrison, though, is 0-2 in 5 games (3 starts) against the Astros with a 5.95 ERA.
Houston, meanwhile, will turn to a lefty of its own in Dallas Keuchel, who is 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA. Keuchel beat the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, holding them to a pair of runs and six hits in 7 2/3 innings.
Keuchel has faced the Rangers five times and is 0-2 against them with a 4.75 ERA.
[SportsNetwork.com]
