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 It started on the mound.
Texas starter Matt Harrison and four relievers kept the Colorado
red-hot bats in check in the Rangers' 5-0 shutout at rain-soaked
Globe Life Park.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak -- all at the hands of
Colorado -- and kept Texas (18-17) from falling below .500. Harrison
won his first game of the season after two no-decisions.
"It was huge, especially after the last three games," Harrison said
after his first victory since Sept. 27, 2012. "The defense made a
lot of great plays behind me. That's a good club over there."
The Rockies (22-15) outscored Texas 29-5 over the previous three
games this week. Colorado managed only five hits in losing for just
the third time in the last 12 games.
The Rockies weren't at their defensive best, either. Three errors, a
wild pitch, a balk, a passed ball and a hit batter contributed to an
overall sloppy night for the National League West co-leaders, who
were shutout for the first time this season.
 "Harrison did a good job pitching back and forth with the
fastball-changeup combo," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We had
some opportunities early and couldn't get the big hit tonight, but
we've been winning series so we'll try to stick to that formula
moving forward.
Colorado starter Franklin Morales (3-2) was touched up for all five
runs (four earned) in six innings.
"I thought he did a nice job," Weiss said of Morales. "We just got
shut down on the offensive end."
Texas gladly took advantage of the gifts, along with a solid
performance from Harrison. The left-hander worked into the sixth
inning and didn't allow a run, working around four walks and three
hits.
The Rangers also benefited from first baseman Prince Fielder's solo
home run in the sixth off the second deck in right and several key
defensive plays. Left fielder Michael Choice and center fielder
Leonys Martin drove in runs for Texas.
"Tonight we created some opportunities and we took advantage of it,"
Texas manager Ron Washington said. "It was nice. We did everything.
We played defense, ran the bases, pitched and hit."
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The Rangers got on the board in the second with two runs resulting
from two hits and two Colorado miscues.
Right fielder Alex Rios doubled down the left-field line and scored
after Martin stroked a single to right. Martin moved to second on a
balk from Morales, stole third and strolled home after Colorado
catcher Michael McKenry's throw sailed into left field.
The Rockies squandered a golden scoring opportunity in the top of
the second after loading the bases with one out. Harrison worked out
of the jam by coaxing a ground-ball double play from McKenry.
NOTES: The Rangers were busy on Thursday announcing six roster
moves. The club recalled INF Luis Sardinas Double-A Frisco,
purchased the contracts of INF Rougned Odor from Frisco and RHP
Justin Germano from Triple-A Round Rock, placed INF Donnie Murphy
placed on 15-day disabled list with a neck strain, and designated
INF Josh Wilson and RHP Scott Baker for assignment. ... Colorado's
lineup was shuffled when 1B Justin Morneau was scratched before the
game because of neck stiffness. Jordan Pacheco moved from catcher to
first base, with C Michael McKenry not getting the day off. ...
Texas RF Alex Rios snapped a 0-for-11 streak with a second-inning
double. ... Texas is 16-7 when scoring at least three runs this
season. ... Colorado finishes the season 3-1 against the Rangers,
and is 4-2 against the American League.
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