Rangers 5, Astros 4
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers kept the Houston Astros at bay in the final four innings and held on for a 5-4 victory on Sunday at Rangers Ballpark.
Texas (51-37) ended a nine-game homestand with a 5-4 record. The Rangers also ran their streak to 11 consecutive series wins over the Lone Star State rival and improved to 7-2 against the Astros this season.
The Rangers begin a seven-game, seven-day road trip on Monday when they face the Baltimore Orioles.
Houston (32-57), having defeated the Rangers 9-5 on Saturday, failed to take its first series against the Rangers in Arlington since 2006.
The finale of the series included three Texas home runs, boosting its total to 12 in the three weekend games, but an error in the Rangers' half of the fifth inning proved to be the difference.
After allowing Houston to tie the score at 4 with two errors in the top of the inning, Texas opened the bottom of the fifth with Ian Kinsler reaching safely after a grounder went between the legs of Astros second basemen Jose Altuve.
Kinsler advanced to second on a walk and then added the go-ahead run on a single to left by Nelson Cruz to give Texas a 5-4 advantage.
Texas starter Justin Grimm lasted into the fifth but failed to record an out in allowing his lead to dissipate.
Grimm's attempted pick-off of Brandon Barnes at second went into center field, allowing both runners to advance. Barnes scored three pitches later when Jurickson Profar could not handle the throw from home on another pick-off attempt that went into left to tie the score at 4.
Grimm struck out two and allowed three earned runs in four innings.
Five Rangers relievers pitched an inning each to finish off the Astros. Cory Burns and Joakim Soria each worked a perfect inning before Jason Frasor and Neal Cotts combined for five strikeouts.
Burns picked up his first career victory in four big-league appearances, and Joe Nathan posted his 29th save of the season.
Houston's Erik Bedard (3-5) pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up four earned runs and five walks. Bedard struck out four.
The Rangers picked up their early lead with two home runs.
A.J. Pierzynski belted his eighth home run of the lead in the first for the Rangers.
However, Houston wasted little time with a response in the second. Marc Krauss hit his first career home run -- a two-run shot to center.
Adrian Beltre pushed the Texas lead to 4-2 in the third with his fourth home run in as many games.
J.K. Martinez's two-out single drove in Houston's Carlos Corporan, who singled, to cut the Texas lead to 4-3.
NOTES: Texas made four rosters moves before the game. The Rangers placed RHP Nick Tepesch and DH Lance Berkman on the 15-day disabled list. To fill the roster spots, Texas activated Soria and Burns. Soria had missed the entire 2012 season while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. ... The Rangers announced that they will make up a May 29 rainout against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 1.
