Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Josh Hamilton went 5-for-6 and drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the 10th inning, as the red-hot Texas Rangers rallied to beat the Houston Astros, 5-4, and complete a three-game sweep.
Hamilton extended his career-high hitting streak to 16 games for the Rangers, who have won eight in a row for the first time since a nine-game winning streak from May 20-31, 2005. Julio Borbon went 4-for-5 with an RBI and run scored for the victors.
Chris Ray (2-0) tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up the win. Neftali Feliz pitched a perfect tenth to record his 19th save of the year.
Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman each drove in a run for the Astros, who have dropped four in a row and eight of nine overall. With the score tied at four, Casey Daigle (0-1) took over on the mound for the Astros in the top of the 10th. Borbon singled and Vladimir Guerrero was intentionally walked to put men on first and second with two outs. Gustavo Chacin took over on the mound and gave up the game-winning single to Hamilton. Matt Lindstrom came on in the top of the ninth with Houston holding a 4-3 lead. Ian Kinsler singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored the tying run on Hamilton's single to center. Justin Smoak and Elvis Andrus walked to loaded the bases with two outs. Pinch-hitter Craig Gentry, though, fouled out to keep it a tie game. The Astros scored two runs in the first to grab an early lead. Jeff Keppinger singled, advanced to second on a passed ball, and crossed the plate on Berkman's double. Lee added an RBI single two batters later. Texas got a run back in the top of the second on back-to-back doubles from Smoak and Max Ramirez. Houston responded with two runs in the home half to build a 4-1 lead. Pedro Feliz started things with a single. Tommy Manzella followed with a base hit of his own to right. Guerrero's fielding error allowed Feliz to score and Manzella to advance to third. Manzella later crossed the plate on a passed ball. Smoak's run-scoring single in the third made it a two-run game. Borbon added an RBI double in the sixth to cut the gap to 4-3. The Rangers loaded the bases in the seventh, but pinch-hitter Andrus grounded out.