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 They just want to keep winning.
They did just that Thursday as they completed a three-game sweep of
Houston and reigning Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel 7-4 at Globe
Life Park. The win was the 10th straight for the Rangers over the
Astros in Arlington and their 11th in the last 13 meetings overall.
More importantly for Texas, it was its fourth-straight win.
"A sweep of anybody anytime during the year is big," Texas manager
Jeff Banister said. "It doesn't matter the name on the front of the
jersey."
Maybe the Rangers should have known they were in for a good night
since they were facing Keuchel (2-2). As good as he has been
overall, he's struggled in Arlington. Thursday he was tagged for six
runs in six innings as the Rangers pounded him for 13 hits, which
matched a career high for hits allowed. His ERA in Arlington is 6.75
in seven starts.
The Rangers set the tone in the bottom of the first when Ian Desmond
hit a three-run homer, his first with Texas, off Keuchel to put the
Rangers up for good at 3-1.
 Texas tacked on another run in the second on an RBI-grounder from
Delino DeShields and then pushed the lead to 5-1 on a triple from
Elvis Andrus in the third.
Houston got a run back in the fourth against A.J. Griffin (2-0) on a
homer from Colby Rasmus, but the Rangers kept scoring against
Keuchel.
Keuchel allowed another run in the fifth on a Prince Fielder
grounder. That scored Nomar Mazara, who doubled to open the frame.
Desmond, who doubled in the third and scored on the Andrus triple,
likes the way the Rangers have approached things on a home that
ended with four-straight wins.
"The most important thing is we're getting off to a good start early
in the season and building off each other's at-bats," Desmond said.
"The fact we've won or tied every series we've played with the
exception of the first one we've had, championship teams win series.
That's kind of the goal I have in mind and the rest of the team
shares that same mentality."
Keuchel said he felt like he had his best stuff on the season, but
it didn't translate in the game. He credited the Rangers for that.
"Everything they did it was just like magic for them," Keuchel said.
"They've had a good run here and I thought today was the day we'd
stop. I battled my butt off, but it just wasn't good enough. We'll
regroup. We've got to play smarter. We've got to be more
knowledgeable on all three aspects of the game. We can't just rely
on our talent to come out and win ball games here."
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The Astros got off to a good start against Griffin, taking a 1-0
lead by opening the game with back-to-back doubles from Jose Altuve
and George Springer.
But after that, the only offense Houston could muster came from
Colby Rasmus. He led off the fourth with a solo homer to trim the
Texas lead to 5-. With Houston down 7-2, Rasmus homered again in the
eighth off Tony Barnette. Texas closer Shawn Tolleson finished the
game with his third save of the series and sixth overall.
Griffin allowed four hits in his six innings and struck out six. He
retired eight-straight Astros at one point.
While Rasmus had a big night, he knows the struggling Astros (5-11)
have to find a way to start winning games against a Texas team they
play 16 more times this year.
"There is a sense that they somewhat have our number," Rasmus said.
"Just hitting balls through our shifts and balls finding the grass
out there in big spots. It's tough right now. We have to continue to
try and hold out heads up and try and get better."
NOTES: The Rangers put RHP Keone Kela on the 15-day disabled list
with a bone spur in his right elbow and recalled RHP Phil Klein from
Triple-A Round Rock to take Kela's roster spot. ... The Rangers have
won 14 straight games started by LHP Cole Hamels. The only streak
longer in franchise history is 15 games with Hall of Famer Ferguson
Jenkins on the mound during the 1978-79 seasons. ... Texas RHP Yu
Darvish threw his third live batting practice session on Thursday.
... Five home runs through 15 games for Tyler White are the most
ever for Astros player. The 12 RBIs through 15 games is tied for
third most. ... Astros SS Carlos Correa played his 114th game on
Thursday night. No shortstop since 1913 has hit more homers in their
first 113 games than Correa's 25.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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