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 Starter Derek Holland lasted just five innings, setup man Keone
Kela allowed two homers and closer Shawn Tolleson gave up a run in
the ninth, but the offense more than made up for it in a 7-5 Rangers
victory.
Texas never trailed in the game, setting the tone on a two-run homer
from Prince Fielder off Scott Feldman (0-2) in the first inning. The
Rangers then were able to answer every time the Astros tried to
mount a rally.
"It was good momentum and it was good to keep winning, but that's
just game one," said Holland, who threw 105 pitches and allowed two
runs in his five innings while improving to 2-0. "Now we've got to
go get the second one."
If the offense continues to produce as it did in a 12-hit attack
Tuesday, it certainly is doable.
The Rangers got to Feldman for three runs in the first. After
Houston countered with two in the second, Texas scored another in
the third and two more in the sixth to take a 6-2 lead.
 That made the back-to-back homers from Jose Altuve and George
Springer in the seventh a little easier for the Rangers to stomach.
Mitch Moreland's solo homer for the home team in the eighth provided
a little more breathing room for the Rangers, who took 13 of 19
games from Houston last year on their way to the American League
West title.
Tuesday's game was typical of many during the Astros' 5-9 start.
"I think our guys, just putting themselves in a hole a little bit
and using a lot of pitches and a lot of taxing innings," Houston
manager A.J. Hinch said. "Things haven't come easy early in the
season, early in the game, but for the most part, I believe they're
going to come back and bounce back out of this."
Feldman was done in by a 41-pitch first inning that included an RBI
single from Ian Desmond.
Houston came back to make it a 3-2 game in the second on RBI doubles
from Carlos Gomez and Marwin Gonzalez. Feldman gave up another run
in the third, and like Holland, was done after five innings with the
Astros down 4-2.
RBI doubles from Elvis Andrus and Brett Nicholas in the sixth gave
Texas breathing room.
The Rangers got production throughout the lineup. Desmond had his
first two-hit game with Texas while Moreland, Andrus and Rougned
Odor also had two-hit nights.
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Desmond, who came into the game hitting .109, raised his average to
.140. "Obviously, in the most humble way I can say it, I've got no
doubt I'm going to hit, but to be able to go out and help the team
win, that's probably most important," Desmond said. "I feel like
I've been, maybe in self-evaluation and being too hard on myself, I
feel like I've kind of been a little bit of an anchor. Tonight it
was nice to go out there and be able to contribute."
Feldman didn't feel as if he contributed enough, as he gave up six
hits and four runs (three earned) in his five inning. He walked
three and struck out one.
"I wasn't hitting my spots," the former Rangers starter said. "I
just felt like command was an issue a little bit, for the whole game
really. The three walks and things like that. I've got to be better
next time."
NOTES: Texas C Chris Gimenez, on the disabled list all season due to
a lower left leg infection, expects to head to Arizona for extending
spring training games on Friday and begin a rehab assignment with
Double-A Frisco on Monday. ... Texas OF Nomar Mazara produced 12
hits in his first seven games. The only player with more in
Texas/Washington history is Del Unser, who had 13 with the Senators
in 1968. ... Houston RHP Lance McCullers, sidelined all season with
right shoulder issues, threw a bullpen Tuesday in Arlington and is
slated to throw another one on Friday. He was scratched from a rehab
start last weekend because of recovery issues from a prior rehab
start. ... Houston continues to work with Evan Gattis at catcher. He
hasn't caught in a game since he was with the Atlanta Braves in
2014.
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