ARLINGTON, Texas – Nolan Arenado had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 27 games, matching Colorado's team record, and the Rockies had their third lopsided victory over Texas in as many nights, 9-2 on Wednesday.
Arenado's two-run double in the first inning put the Rockies ahead to stay and equaled teammate Michael Cuddyer's record streak from last season.
Carlos Gonzalez homered for Colorado, which has outscored Texas 29-5 in three games this week. The Rockies won 8-2 and 12-1 at home with a combined 34 hits before the teams shifted to Texas for two games.
Every starter had a hit for the Rockies, who finished with 16 and got 12 of them in 3 2-3 innings off Colby Lewis (2-2).
Jorge De La Rosa (4-3) struck out four and walked three. The lefty gave up two runs over six innings.
Adrian Beltre homered for Texas and became only the fifth player in major league history with 100 home runs for three different teams.
After not getting a hit until his fifth plate appearance Tuesday night, Arenado wasted no time Wednesday. His double followed consecutive two-out hits by MLB-leading hitter Troy Tulowitzki (.414) and Gonzalez.
Arenado's streak is the longest for anyone 23 years or younger since Albert Pujols had a 30-gamer in 2003 when he was 23.
Lewis got the first two batters out in each of the first three innings before allowing multiple hits each time. But the Rockies failed to score in the second and again in the third, when Arenado was tagged out halfway between third and home by first baseman Prince Fielder after Colorado had two runners caught between bases.
The last nine batters faced by Lewis had six singles in a row and consecutive sacrifice flies by Corey Dickerson and Tulowitzki before Gonzalez homered, his seventh of the season capping a five-run fourth to make it 7-0. Lewis had allowed 12 hits twice before, including against Colorado at home two years ago.
Colorado had 13 hits before Texas finally got Michael Choice's one-out single in the fourth. Beltre followed with his homer to straightaway center, his second this season after hitting the first a night earlier.
Beltre, in his fourth season with Texas, previously hit 147 homers for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998-2004) and 103 homers for Seattle (2005-09).
The other players with 100 homers for three different teams are Darrell Evans (Atlanta, San Francisco and Detroit), Reggie Jackson (Kansas City/Oakland, New York Yankees, California), Alex Rodriguez (Seattle, Texas and Yankees) and Jim Thome (Cleveland, Philadelphia, Chicago White Sox).
Scott Baker, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Round Rock earlier Wednesday, pitched the final 5 1-3 innings for Texas.
It was only Baker's fifth relief appearance in 167 career major league games, most with the Minnesota Twins from 2005-11 before the right-hander had Tommy John surgery in April 2012. He made three starts for the Chicago Cubs last September.
NOTES: Rangers 2B Donnie Murphy left the game with a neck strain after tripping over first base trying to beat out a grounder to end the sixth. ... Colorado throws another lefty Thursday in Franklin Morales (3-1, 5.05 ERA). Manager Walter Weiss said Morales is finding his rhythm as a starter again after being a reliever the past 5ive years. Colorado has won his last four starts after losing his first two.
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