Houston, TX – Nelson Cruz hit a two-run home run during a six-run sixth inning as the Texas Rangers survived to take an 8-7 win over the Houston Astros in the second of a three-game set.
Leonys Martin hit a two-run triple while Lance Berkman and Adrian Beltre each smacked a solo homer for the Rangers, who have won six of eight. Yu Darvish (6-1) worked seven innings and gave up three runs on three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
"It wasn't one of his better ones, but he always finds a way to get it done," Rangers manager Ron Washington said of Darvish. "He's a warrior and he found a way to get it done and got us through seven innings."
Matt Dominguez hit a two-run homer and a solo shot run for the Astros, who have dropped their past three games. Erik Bedard gave up two runs on four hits over five-plus innings, while Philip Humber (0-8) gave up five runs while recording just two outs to suffer his eighth loss in nine games this season.
Robbie Grossman doubled to leadoff the eighth and later came home on a Jose Altuve sacrifice fly to cut Houston's deficit to 8-4.
Michael Kirkman started the ninth on the mound for Texas, but didn't record an out as he was pulled after giving up a single to Carlos Corporan and a double to Carlos Pena.
Joe Nathan took over and Trevor Crowe singled in a run, then Pena scored on a wild pitch from Nathan. After Matt Dominguez grounded out, Marwin Gonzalez' sac fly made it a one-run game. Grossman then walked to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Chris Carter popped out and Nathan recorded his 11th save of the season.
Beltre's leadoff homer in the second got the Rangers on the board, but Dominguez tied the game with his first of the year with one out in the third.
"It's kind of big for me," Dominguez said of his homer. "I've been waiting for my first home run to come. It took awhile."
The Astros went on top in the fifth when Dominguez homered again, this time with Pena on base, for a 3-1 lead, but the Rangers blew the game open in the sixth.
Berkman singled to start the frame and Humber took over for Bedard. After Beltre struck out, Cruz smacked a pitch over the wall in center. Mitch Moreland followed with a triple and scored on David Murphy's opposite-field ground-rule double.
Geovany Soto worked a walk to put men on first and second, and Martin added a pinch-hit triple to score both runners. Elvis Andrus' single to center plated Martin for a 7-3 lead.
Berkman's leadoff homer in the seventh extended the lead to 8-3.
Game Notes
Texas has won eight of the last nine against Houston ... Darvish is 3-0 against the Astros in his career. In his other appearance against Houston this season, he came an out away from a perfect game as he pitched 8 2/3 innings before giving up a hit in a game on April 2 ... Dominguez became the first player to record a multi-home run game against Darvish in his career.
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