HOUSTON (AP) — Josh Hamilton matched a career high with five hits, including a tying single in the ninth inning and the go-ahead single in the 10th, to lift the Texas Rangers over the Houston Astros 5-4 Sunday for their season-high eighth straight victory.
Julio Borbon added four hits and Texas rallied from a three-run deficit to sweep the three-game series from its state rival, extending Houston's losing streak to four.
Borbon singled leading off the 10th against Casey Daigle (0-1) and advanced to second on Michael Young's groundout in front of the plate. After Ian Kinsler flied out, the Astros intentionally walked Vladimir Guerrero. Hamilton then knocked a line drive to right field off lefty Gustavo Chacin to put the Rangers ahead.
Chris Ray (2-0) allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth and Neftali Feliz pitched a perfect 10th for his 19th save in 21 chances.
Hamilton's RBI single off closer Matt Lindstrom tied it at 4 in the ninth. Lindstrom got out of a bases-loaded jam when first baseman Lance Berkman caught pinch-hitter Craig Gentry's foul popup near the Houston dugout.
Andres Blanco singled in the sixth before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and scoring on a double by Borbon that made it 4-3.
Hamilton extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the third. He advanced to second on that play when Carlos Lee mishandled the ball in left field for an error. Justin Smoak drove Hamilton home with a single that cut Houston's lead to 4-2.
Smoak, a rookie, finished with two homers and eight RBIs in the series.
Pedro Feliz singled in the second for the Astros. Tommy Manzella then singled to right field, where Guerrero couldn't handle the ball and it rolled into the corner. Feliz scored and Manzella went to third on the error, giving Houston a 3-1 lead.
The Astros took advantage of another Texas miscue when Manzella scored after a pitch glanced off the glove of catcher Max Ramirez and was ruled a passed ball later in the second.
Astros manager Brad Mills tinkered with his batting order, moving Berkman from No. 3 to the No. 2 spot in the lineup for the first time since 2004. Berkman got things going in the first inning with an RBI double. The play included an awkward moment when he passed second base, realized he needed to go back, fell to his hands and knees and crawled back to the base.
A single by Lee, who celebrated his 34th birthday, scored Berkman later in the inning to make it 2-0.
Smoak doubled in the second inning and scored on a double by Ramirez to get Texas within 2-1.
Astros starter Felipe Paulino allowed 10 hits and three runs in six innings. Rangers starter C.J. Wilson left after allowing six hits and four runs in seven innings.
NOTES: Astros C Humberto Quintero was injured in the fourth inning when he was hit in the head with a bat on Blanco's follow through. He received seven stitches on the right side of his head and was taken to the hospital for X-rays. The team does not think he has a concussion. He was replaced by Kevin Cash. ... RHP Dustin Nippert is likely to start for Texas on Wednesday against Pittsburgh. ... Astros RHP Bud Norris, on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis, will make one more rehabilitation start at Triple-A Round Rock.
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