Rangers Pound Astros 7-1, Win Series for First Time in 2015

The Texas Rangers jumped on Houston Astros starter Scott Feldman early, gaining a two-run double from Prince Fielder and a two-run homer from Carlos Peguero. The quick 4-0 lead paved the way for a 7-1 Rangers’ win at Minute Maid Park Tuesday.

"Just warming up, I felt great, and obviously there's a pretty good vibe around here with the team and they're playing great," Feldman said. "I went out there and did terrible. I've got to try to iron that out in between my next start."

Feldman (2-3) , who had posted a 2.84 ERA in his past 12 starts entering Tuesday, allowed five of the first six hitters he faced in the game to reach.

Firstbaseman Kyle Blanks hit his team-leading third homerun of the season in only his sixth game.

Blanks went 3-for-4 Tuesday, and is now 9-for-17 with three home runs in the No. 5 spot in the lineup. The rest of the Rangers' No. 5 hitters this season are a collective 17-for-79 (.215) with no home runs.

Former Astro left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (1-1) went eight innings and sent down his final 19 batters in a row to pick up his first Major League win since May 26, 2013, for the Pirates against the Brewers.

The only Astros' run came on a first -inning homer by 3B Luis Valbuena.

It is the first time for the Rangers to win back-to-back games and is their first series win 2015.

Astros right fielder George Springer was being tested for a possible concussion and wasn't expected to play in Wednesday's series finale after he crashed hard into the right-field wall making a terrific catch to rob Adrian Beltre of a hit in the seventh inning.

"That was a scary play," said Astro’s manager A.J. Hinch. "Everybody has seen that before when he's flying into the foul wall last night and he's going as hard as can be tonight, and he's pretty banged up. When he got up you know we were starting to head out there to see what happened. He did hit his head on the wall. You could tell he was a little bit dazed and he was going full speed when he did it."

Game three of the series can is slated for a 7:10 first pitch Wednesday from Houston.

The Rangers will send RHP Colbie Lewis (0-2, 3.00 ERA) to the mound. Lewis is 5-1 with a 1.95 ERA in eight career starts and three relief appearances against the Astros.

The Astros are expected to counter with Samuel Deduno (1-0, 2.70). Deduno will make his second start of the season for the Astros. . Deduno has faced the Rangers four times in his career (7.56 ERA).

The series finale can be heard on Sports Radio 1340 The Fan beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 pm.

[via Astros.mlb.com]