Lewis' Pitching Drives Rangers 5-1 Over Astros
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Colby Lewis #48 poses for a portrait during the Texas rangers Photo Day at Surprise on March 2, 2010 in Surprise, Arizona.
Colby Lewis pitched a two-hitter for his first complete game, rookie Justin Smoak homered for the second straight day and the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 5-1 Saturday night to extend their season-best winning streak to seven games.
Lewis (7-4) didn't allow a baserunner until Hunter Pence's single with one out in the fifth inning. Third baseman Michael Young bobbled the hard-hit grounder and held onto the ball as he watched Pence run to first.
Though this was the first major league complete game for Lewis, he had lasted nine innings before, striking out 10 in a 2-0 Texas win against Seattle in April that lasted 12 innings. The right-hander struck out nine with no walks Saturday to shut down the Astros.
Smoak drove in three runs. His two-run shot in the second inning that landed in the second deck in right field gave Texas an early lead. The sellout crowd of more than 41,000 had plenty of Rangers fans and they cheered loudly as Smoak rounded the bases.
Houston's second hit didn't come until Michael Bourn's double to the right-field corner with nobody out in the seventh. The Astros got within 2-1 when Bourn scored on a wild pitch by Lewis. The ball skipped by catcher Max Ramirez and the speedy Bourn slipped in just ahead of the toss to Lewis covering home plate.
Smoak broke out of a 2-for-22 slump Friday night with a home run and a career-high four RBIs in a 9-3 win in the series opener. On Saturday, he had three of the Rangers' seven hits and singled home a run that made it 3-1 in the eighth.
Vladimir Guerrero pushed the lead to 4-1 with his single in the eighth and Young hit a solo homer in the ninth.
Smoak's home run was the only hit Houston starter Brian Moehler (0-4) allowed. He struck out three and walked four before being replaced by Tim Byrdak for the seventh inning. Moehler was making his fifth start since moving from the bullpen to replace injured Bud Norris in the rotation.
Texas slugger Josh Hamilton extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single off Brandon Lyon in the eighth.
Game Notes:
- Rangers RHP Tommy Hunter, who left his last start because of discomfort in his right hip, threw 45 pitches in a bullpen session and is scheduled to start Tuesday.
- Texas LHP Derek Holland, on the disabled list with left shoulder pain, injured his right kneecap during a workout Friday and will undergo an MRI on Monday. Team officials don't think the new injury is serious.
- An MRI on Houston RHP Jeff Fulchino's right elbow was negative and he is taking anti-inflammatory medicine. He isn't expected to miss any time.
- Astros RHP Chris Sampson, on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right rotator cuff, pitched a scoreless inning for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday night.
