McHugh strong as Astros down Rangers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Collin McHugh pitched six strong innings to lead the Houston Astros in a 5-1 win over the Texas Rangers to open a three-game set on Friday.
McHugh (1-0) gave up a run on five hits while walking two and striking out four for the Astros, who dropped two of three to Cleveland to open the season.
Colby Rasmus hit a two-run home run, Jake Marisnick drove in a pair of runs and Jed Lowrie added a solo home run in the win.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We got a lot of good at-bats out of guys," said Houston manager A.J. Hinch. "We had a lot of baserunners today and capitalized on the pitches we got that we could hit."
Delino DeShields Jr. drove in the only run of the game for the Rangers, who split a four-game set with Oakland to open the 2015 campaign.
"We have to keep playing hard because if you do your best and play 100 percent, positive things are eventually going to happen," said Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Texas starter Derek Holland's (0-1) season debut was a short one as he left after just one inning with tightness in his left shoulder. He gave up Lowrie's homer in the first to take the loss.
After the game, the team announced that he has a strain of the subscapularis muscle in his left shoulder and will not throw for at least four weeks.
The Rangers also lost right fielder Shin-Soo Choo to a back injury, and left fielder Ryan Rua to an ankle injury.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Houston jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as Lowrie hit a two-out solo homer just over the wall in left for his second of the year.
Andrus singled to start the Texas third, but was caught stealing second. Rougned Odor then doubled, but Robinson Chirinos and Leonys Martin grounded out to end the frame.
The Astros tacked on another run in the fifth. Jonathan Villar walked and Jason Castro followed with a single. Robbie Grossman then tried to bunt, but popped it out and Villar was caught off second. Marisnick followed with a double to plate Castro for a 2-0 lead.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Texas got on the board in the sixth as Adrian Beltre hit a one-out double and Prince Fielder followed with a single before DeShields Jr.'s fielder's choice allowed Beltre to cross the plate and made it a 2-1 game.
Houston got the run back in the seventh, though, as Grossman hit a two-out double and Jake Marisnick followed with a single to score Grossman for a 3-1 lead.
Rasmus' two-run homer in the ninth extended the Astros' lead to four runs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
McHugh has won eight straight decisions dating back to August of last season. He is the first Astros pitcher to win eight in a row since Roy Oswalt won nine straight in 2006-07 ... Holland fell to 3-2 against Houston ... Texas was 1- for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded six.