Texas Rangers’ pitcher Yu Darvish throws to Houston Astros’ batter Jimmy Paredes during the first inning of their American League MLB baseball game in Houston, yesterday. RIGHT: Kansas City Royals’ designated hitter Billy Butler (16) is congratulated by Eric Hosmer after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees in the fourth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Kansas City, Missouri.
Houston: Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer during a six-run sixth inning and Yu Darvish won his fourth consecutive decision as visiting Texas Rangers defeated the Houston Astros for the second straight night.
David Murphy hit the go-ahead double off Philip Humber (0-8), Leonys Martin had a two-run triple and Elvis Andrus capped the six-run uprising with a run-scoring single as the Rangers knocked off the Astros for the 18th time in the last 22 meetings.
Adrian Beltre and Lance Berkman also homered for the Rangers. Darvish (6-1) allowed three runs and three hits in seven innings and struck out eight to raise his major-league leading total to 80.
Matt Dominguez had two homers and three RBIs against Darvish. Dominguez hit a solo shot in the third and a two-run homer in the fifth that gave Houston a 3-1 lead.
Meanwhile, Adam Wainwright took a no-hitter into the eighth on way to his sixth career shutout while Allen Craig recorded three hits and an RBI as St. Louis blanked visiting Colorado for the second straight day.
A day after Shelby Miller retired 27 straight batters in a one-hit shutout, Wainwright (5-2) struck out seven and surrendered two hits while walking one. It was the veteran right-hander’s second shutout of the season and his 13th career complete game.
REUTERS
