Houston, TX – Colby Lewis dazzled Houston hitters, surrendering just one run over eight-plus innings to lead Texas to a 6-1 win over the Astros in the finale of a three-game interleague set.
Lewis (4-3) carried a shutout into the ninth before giving up a solo home run to Jed Lowrie. Lewis allowed just four hits, walked one and fanned six to help the Rangers pick up their third win in five tries.
"Colby was great," Rangers first baseman Michael Young said. "He was just going after guys. He's so much fun to play behind because he has so much confidence and just trusts his stuff. He did a great job."
Nelson Cruz knocked in two runs, while Josh Hamilton had two hits and an RBI for Texas. Lewis also drove in a pair runs.
Jordan Lyles (0-1) was tagged for all six runs on nine hits over five frames as Houston fell for the sixth time in nine games.
Texas wasted no time and took a 5-0 lead in the first. Ian Kinsler led off with a single and moved to third on an Elvis Andrus single before scoring on a Josh Hamilton sacrifice fly to center. Young followed with a double to put runners on second and third and David Murphy was intentionally walked to load the bases for Nelson Cruz.
"(Lyles) just couldn't get a feel for the ball and he was just having problems locating his pitches that first inning," said Astros' manager Brad Mills. "I think we saw it the 0-2 pitch to the leadoff hitter Kinsler, he hung that breaking ball. He had a single and then they were off. And Cruz and Lewis had the big hits that inning. And then Lewis just held us down, I didn't really see that coming."
Cruz made the Astros pay, roping a single to left to plate Andrus and Young. Yorvit Torrealba was hit by a pitch to load the bases again for Colby Lewis, who helped his cause by dropping in a single, scoring Murphy and Cruz.
"The first inning I didn't do too well my mistakes were just over the plate," Lyles said. "I didn't have a clue where I was throwing, like I said my mistakes were over the plate. No one to blame but myself."
Daniel Murphy's solo home run in the fifth made it a 6-0 game.
Following Lowrie's leadoff homer in the ninth, Carlos Lee doubled to center. Travis Buck's groundout moved Lee to third but Robbie Ross was able to get Chris Johnson to fly out to end the game.
Game Notes
Lewis now has four career RBI...It was Lewis' longest outing for 2012. He went seven innings three times this season...Hamilton had his 15th multi-hit game of 2012...Houston avoided its fourth shutout of the season with Lowrie's homer...Astros fall to 29-39 all-time against the Rangers.
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