3 HRs Propel Darvish, Rangers Over Houston

Rangers hold off late rally, win 8-7

Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz and Lance Berkman all homered to back up another solid outing by Yu Darvish, and the Texas Rangers held on for an 8-7 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Darvish (6-1) yielded three hits and three runs, leaving after the seventh with an 8-3 lead. In his previous outing against the Astros, he came within one out of pitching a perfect game at Houston on April 2.

Matt Dominguez homered twice off Darvish. Dominguez didn't play in the first game against the Japanese star this season.

Houston led 3-1 before it was done in by its bullpen during a six-run sixth inning by the Rangers. Cruz, who also homered on Friday night, got things going with his two-run homer off reliever Philip Humber (0-8) that tied it. Pinch-hitter David Murphy put the Rangers on top with an RBI double.

Humber, who was moved out of the rotation this week, was rocked for five hits and five runs while getting only two outs.

The Astros scored three times in the ninth to cut the lead to one run, but closer Joe Nathan settled down to retire pinch-hitter Chris Carter to end it and get his 11th save.

Darvish fanned eight and leads the majors with 80 strikeouts. With 301 career strikeouts, he joined Dwight Gooden (319) as the only pitchers in major league history to reach at least 300 in their first 37 major league starts.

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Darvish improved to 3-0 with 33 strikeouts in three career starts against the Astros.

The Houston bullpen trouble ruined a nice night for starter Erik Bedard, who allowed four hits and two runs with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Beltre put Texas up 1-0 with a solo homer to start the second.

Darvish retired the first seven batters before Dominguez launched a solo drive in the third. Marwin Gonzalez, who singled to break up Darvish's perfect game with two outs in the ninth last month, followed with an infield hit.

Dominguez's two-run homer in the fifth put Houston ahead 3-1. It was the first multihomer game of his career.

Berkman extended his hitting streak at Minute Maid Park to 17 games with a single to start the sixth inning that chased Bedard. Humber took over and struck out Beltre before the trouble began.

Cruz tied it at 3 with a homer that landed in Houston's bullpen in right-center field. Moreland followed with a soaring triple, which landed on Tal's Hill just in front of the center-field wall at the 436-foot mark. Murphy's ground-rule double made it 4-3.

Geovany Soto walked, pinch-hitter Leonys Martin hit a two-run triple and Elvis Andrus had an RBI single for a 7-3 lead, chasing Humber.

Berkman hit a solo homer to left-center field off Jose Cisnero to start the seventh inning.

A sacrifice fly by Jose Altuve got Houston within 8-4 in the eighth inning.

Carlos Corporan singled and Carlos Pena doubled to start Houston's ninth, and the Rangers replaced Michael Kirkman with Nathan.

Trevor Crowe hit an RBI single to make it 8-6, Nathan threw a wild pitch that scored a run and Gonzalez had a sacrifice fly. Robbie Grossman walked before Carter's fly ball ended the game.

NOTES: Murphy was shaken up when he crashed into the wall in left field trying to catch a double by Grossman in the eighth inning, but he remained in the game. ... Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux missed Saturday's game to attend daughter Makayla's graduation from TCU. Bullpen coach Andy Hawkins filled in for him, and minor league pitching coordinator Danny Clark joined the team as bullpen coach for the night. ... Houston OF Fernando Martinez cleared waivers and will be outrighted to Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... OF Rick Ankiel, who was released by Houston on Monday, has cleared unconditional release waivers and can sign with any club. ... The series wraps up on Sunday when Houston's Jordan Lyles opposes Nick Tepesch.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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