Astros 8, Rangers 3: Chris Carter slammed a pair of long home runs to lift visiting Houston to its first series win in Texas since June 30-July 2, 2006.

Rookie George Springer clubbed a 430-foot homer, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice while Jon Singleton and Jose Altuve each recorded two hits and an RBI as the Astros sent the reeling Rangers to their ninth loss in 10 games. Marwin Gonzalez also notched two hits and drove in a run to back Brad Peacock (3-5), who gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings to beat Texas for the first time in four career decisions.

Leonys Martin homered and had two RBIs for the Rangers, who have dropped 17 of 20 overall and had their string of 10 straight series wins over Houston at home snapped. Phil Irwin (0-1), promoted from Triple-A Round Rock to make his season debut, allowed three runs on six hits over four-plus innings in his second career start.

The Astros scored twice in the first on RBI singles by Singleton and Matt Dominguez - and it could have been worse, but Altuve was picked off third with the bases loaded before Irwin induced a double-play grounder by Carlos Corporan with the bases again full. Martin homered to lead off the second, but Springer swatted a mammoth shot up the grassy bank in straightaway center to open the third.

Carter answered Martin's sacrifice fly with a towering homer to left to begin the sixth before Altuve created a run in the seventh while being helped by a pair of Texas errors. Jake Smolinski's first career hit, an RBI double in the seventh, pulled the Rangers within 5-3 before Carter homered to straightaway center to ignite a three-run eighth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Altuve stole a pair of bases to give him an American League-best 41 and tied Carlos Beltran's franchise record with his 28th consecutive theft without being caught. ... Rangers RHP Yu Darvish was hit in the head by a fly ball during batting practice Tuesday but is expected to make his scheduled start in Wednesday's series finale. ... Astros OF Alex Presley was placed on the 15-day disabled list after suffering a right oblique strain in Monday's game and OF Robbie Grossman was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take his spot on the roster.