The Houston Astros figured out a way to solve Rangers starter Colby Lewis on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series in Arlington.
But when it mattered most, it was Lewis who still had what it took to get the better of the Rangers' in-state "rivals" in what ended up as a walk-off Rangers win that extended the Rangers' streak this season to eight games over the Astros and their home winning streak against Houston to 11.
Lewis got into trouble in the top of the sixth inning, thanks in part to fielding errors from Jurickson Profar and Prince Fielder. It should've been a quick 1-2-3 inning, but instead turned into a bases-loaded, one-out jam with the Rangers holding on to a 4-3 lead.
Lewis faced the top of the Astros' order — a potent duo of George Springer, Jose Altuve — for the fourth time and forced shallow pop-ups from both of them to end the inning and the threat. His final line read six innings, eight hits, four runs (three earned) and four strikeouts on 97 pitches to get another quality start on his ledger.
It wasn't the same dominant Lewis who's owned the Astros over his career (still has a nine-game win streak against them) but when it mattered most, Lewis got the best of them.
