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 Houston's past with Texas right-hander Yu Darvish had no effect
on the Astros, who for once got the best of one of the majors' best
pitchers.
Catcher Carlos Corporan knocked in the go-ahead runs with a two-run
double in the sixth and right fielder Robbie Grossman had a
career-high four hits for the Astros.
The Astros moved percentage points ahead of the Rangers, who are in
last place in the AL West for the first time since the end of the
2007 season.
"We haven't been paying attention to that," Houston second baseman
Jose Altuve said of his team's place in the standings. "The last
three games have been important for us and we're going to try to
keep it going."
Corporan was 2-for-4. Grossman, who was recalled from Triple-A
Oklahoma City on Tuesday, went 4-for-5 with a double, home run and
two RBIs.
Center fielder George Springer went 2-for-4, including his second
home run in as many days, a two-run shot that gave the Astros a
four-run cushion in support of left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel
(9-5).
Keuchel gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Darvish (8-5), who entered the game with a 4-1 record with a 2.29
ERA in seven career starts against Houston, suffered the loss,
giving up a season-high six earned runs on a season-high 10 hits.
Among those previous starts, Darvish, who struck out eight
Wednesday, took a perfect game into the ninth and a no-hitter into
the eighth against the Astros last year.
The Astros (39-54) scored 28 runs on 42 hits in the sweep.
"Everybody swung the bat great," Altuve said. "I think we come with
the same attitude with everybody. We're going to play 100 percent."
Texas (38-54) has lost 18 of its last 21 games, including 1-8 in the
first two weeks of July, and now has the worst record in baseball.
Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre extended his hitting streak to
13 games by going 2-for-4 with a run-scoring single in the first
inning. Center fielder Daniel Robertson had a two-run double in
Texas' four-run second.
Darvish's scoreless streak at home ended at 21 innings when Houston
scored twice in the second. Left fielder Enrique Hernandez's tripled
knocked in Corporan, who followed on Darvish's wild pitch to the
next hitter.
Grossman drove in the Astros' third run with a run-scoring single in
the third.
"My command wasn't bad, I just didn't execute," said Darvish, who is
1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in his last five starts. "They had good chances
and cashed in."
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Grossman entered play with no hits in his last 28 major league
at-bats. He was 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in his career against
Darvish, who couldn't get him out Wednesday.
Grossman had three hits off the Texas right-hander, including a home
run in the fifth that leveled the score at 4.
Corporan's double off Darvish down the left-field line hit the chalk
and the ball darted past a sliding Shin-Soo Choo, the Texas left
fielder. First baseman Jon Singleton and designated hitter Chris
Carter, who had two hits, scored.
"I think we made him get the ball up," Houston manager Bo Porter
said of Darvish. "I think in the times we've struggled against him,
a lot of it had to do with expanding our strike zone and swinging at
pitches out of the zone."
The Rangers opened a 4-2 lead in the second inning after Robertson's
double drove in two runs and Choo's sacrifice fly brought in
another.
Grossman drove in Altuve with a base hit in the third and tied the
score with a solo home run in the fourth.
"The team is in a skid, but I'm telling you they're playing," Texas
manager Ron Washington said. "We just don't have a sustainable
offense. We're not pitching very well and in the American League
you've got to pitch."
NOTES: Houston C Jason Castro missed a third straight game with
discomfort under his left arm pit, though the condition is improved.
Manager Bo Porter expects Castro back on Friday when the team
returns home to play Boston. ... Texas LHP Derek Holland's return
from left knee surgery likely will be pushed back to late August or
early September, a team official said. ... INF Donnie Murphy has
rejected assignment to Triple-A Round Rock and will placed on
waivers by Texas for the purpose of giving him his unconditional
release.
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