Rangers take out Astros
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Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Elvis Andrus drove in a pair of runs as the Texas Rangers grabbed a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros in the second of a three-game set on Saturday.
Carlos Peguero had a pair of hits while driving in a run and scoring once and Rougned Odor also had an RBI and a run scored for the Rangers, who had dropped the opener of this set. Yovani Gallardo (1-1) gave up two runs on eight hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work.
"Overall I think my command was good for the whole game," Gallardo said.
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Marwin Gonzalez hit a solo home run and Jose Altuve drove in the other run for the Astros, who have lost three of their last four. Roberto Hernandez (0-1) allowed five runs -- one earned -- and five hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 4 2/3 frames.
"Early in the season you want to get off to a hot start and put added pressure on yourself, but I don't think there's anything to be worried about. I think it's going to be fun to watch here soon," Houston outfielder Jake Marisnick said.
Texas got a run in the first as Adrian Beltre belted a pitch to right that George Springer misplayed before getting the ball to Gonzalez, who tried to get Beltre at third but his throw went high and Beltre came home.
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The Rangers made it a 2-0 game in the second. Jake Smolinski worked a leadoff walk and moved to third when Mitch Moreland followed with a single. After Andrus struck out, Odor hit a grounder to second that allowed Smolinski to score on a fielder's choice.
Gonzalez hit a solo homer in the third, his first of the year, to make it a 2-1 game.
Two more errors from the Astros in the fifth allowed the Rangers to pad their lead.
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Joe Thatcher took over on the mound with the bases loaded and two outs and hit a grounder to first that Chris Carter misplayed, allowing Peguero to score. Andrus then hit a two-run single to left and wound up at second on a bad throw from Colby Rasmus for a 5-1 lead. Odor struck out to end the inning.
Altuve worked a two-out bases-loaded walk in the sixth to make it a 5-2 game before Phil Klein took over on the mound and got Springer to ground into a fielder's choice to end the frame.
Peguero's RBI single in the eighth accounted for the final score.
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Game Notes
Texas placed pitcher Derek Holland was put on the 60-day disabled list Saturday due to a subscapular strain in right shoulder, and also placed outfielder Ryan Rua on the 15-day DL due to a right ankle sprain. The team also purchased the contract of Peguero from Round Rock and recalled pitcher Jon Edwards from the Triple-A club ... Houston went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position as the team left 13 men on base ... Texas was 2-for-12 with RISP and stranded nine ... Hernandez fell to 2-10 in 17 games (14 starts) against the Rangers.