Chris Johnson drove in three runs and Carlos Lee doubled twice among three hits as the Houston Astros snapped the Texas Rangers’ 11-game winning streak with a 7-4 triumph on Friday.
Geoff Blum added three hits and scored a pair of runs and Lance Berkman hit a solo homer for the Astros, who have won three straight.
Johnson, a rookie, doubled in a run in the second and singled home another in the fourth to give Houston the early lead. The Rangers battled back to take a 3-2 lead when Max Ramirez drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning.
But the Astros didn’t quit, breaking out for three runs in the sixth on RBI doubles from Hunter Pence and Blum, with Blum coming around to score on an error. Houston would pile on two more in the seventh on Berkman’s seventh homer of the season and Johnson’s third RBI of the night - a single to center that scored Pence.
Veteran right-hander Brian Moehler (1-4) hung around long enough to pick up his first win of the season, allowing two earned runs and eight hits in five innings while striking out three and issuing three walks. Matt Lindstrom worked a perfect ninth for his 18th save.
C.J. Lewis (7-5) took the loss in allowing five runs - four earned - on nine hits in five innings.
Houston | Texas | |
Brian Moehler | Player | Colby Lewis |
Win | W/L | Loss |
5.0 | IP | 5.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 4 |
8 | Hits | 9 |
3.60 | ERA | 7.20 |
Houston | Texas | |
Chris Johnson | Player | Josh Hamilton |
4 | Hits | 3 |
3 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 0 |
5 | TB | 3 |
.800 | Avg | .600 |