ARLINGTON, Texas — All that really matters for manager Jeff Banister and the Texas Rangers is getting the victory that finished off a three-game sweep of the AL West-leading Houston Astros.
“It wasn’t pretty, typically you don’t win a ballgame when you walk eight and hit one,” Banister said. “That’s a first for me … a low-scoring, one-run game and win that game.”
Chris Gimenez hit what proved to be the deciding home run and Texas held on for the 4-3 win Wednesday night, using five relievers after Nick Martinez allowed one hit and one run over five innings on his 25th birthday.
The homer by Gimenez leading off the second for a 4-0 lead was the only extra-base hit for the Rangers. It came after they scored three unearned runs in the first off Scott Kazmir (6-6).
The Rangers have won four in a row and seven of eight, moving within five games of the division lead, the closest they have been since June 30.
“It was a big series for us,” Banister said.
All three Houston runs were scored by players who reached on a walk.
With 20-save closer Shawn Tolleson unavailable after pitching six of the previous seven games, Sam Dyson got his second career save — both since a Friday trade from Miami. He closed it out only after allowing a leadoff single in the ninth and hitting Jose Altuve with a pitch.
Kazmir, in his third start for Houston since a July 23 trade from Oakland, lowered his AL-best earned-run average from 2.10 to 2.08 since only one run against him was earned. The right-hander struck out five in his 52/3 innings.
He had thrown 142/3 scoreless innings in his first two starts for Houston, part of his five games in July while allowing one earned run over 34 innings (0.26 ERA). Earlier this season for the A’s, Kazmir gave up only three runs over 21 innings in three starts against the Rangers.
Via AP/SeattleTimes