HOUSTON (AP) - Astros manager Bo Porter said starter Brad Peacock had his best stuff of the year. Unfortunately for Houston, their offense was unable to put runs on the board.
Colby Lewis threw 5 2-3 shutout innings, and Adrian Beltre and Rougned Odor each homered to lead the Texas Rangers to a 4-0 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
Peacock (0-4) struck out a career-high 11 but allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings. Peacock’s previous career-high for strikeouts was 10 at Minnesota on Aug. 4, 2013.
“He had late life to his fastball,” Porter said. “His breaking ball was really sharp. Outside of the two home runs, the slider to Beltre he was trying to get down and out of the zone that he left up a little bit to a really good hitter that made him pay. I felt like he threw the ball tremendous.”
Peacock, who saw his streak of allowing three earned runs or less snapped at eight starts, said he felt the best he had in long time and was able to throw his fastball wherever he wanted for the most part.
“From the get-go, I wanted to try to attack these guys and try to keep the ball down and mix in my other pitches,” Peacock said. “I was able to do that for the most part. I felt good tonight.”
Lewis (3-2) struck out a season-high eight and allowed seven hits to improve to 4-0 in his career at Minute Maid Park. The right-hander bounced back from a poor outing against Colorado on Wednesday where he allowed seven runs in less than four innings.
Beltre had two hits, including a two-run home run to left in the third. Odor had two hits, including a run-scoring single in the fourth and his first career home run in the sixth - a solo shot into the upper deck in right field - to make it 4-0. Prince Fielder also had two hits.
Jose Altuve had three hits, and Matt Dominguez and George Springer each had two hits for the Astros, who left 12 runners on base in losing for the eighth time in the last 10 games.
“Look at the number of hits we had and baserunners, we had guys who were getting hits and getting on base,” Porter said. “We just were not getting the big hit that would plate runs in those situations.”
Lewis exited after singles by Dominguez and Springer, combined with a Mitch Moreland error, put runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth, but Nick Martinez induced a Chris Carter groundout to end the threat.
Houston had a season-high 11 hits but finished 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
“With runners in scoring, the guys are swinging the bat really good,” Altuve said. “I don’t think we are pressing. You have to give credit to the pitcher because he threw well.”
The Astros threatened again in the eighth, putting runners on the corners with one out after singles by Dominguez and Springer, but Neal Cotts struck out Carter and Jesus Guzman to end the inning.
“You look at the difference, and it’s the ability to hit with men in scoring position and getting into situations where we have an opportunity to put a runner across by putting the ball in play. I think we struck out like 14 times,” Porter said. “You strikeout 14 times, and the other team only has to defend the baseball 13 times, that’s a recipe for not having a good offensive night.”NOTES: Washington said he would not know until Wednesday whether lefty Martin Perez lands on the disabled list. “Right now, our thought is to wait until Wednesday and see what more information we have and then we’ll make a decision,” Washington said. “If it’s just for him to miss a start, then we have to do something else. If it gets to that point where he has to go on the DL, we don’t have to make the decision until Wednesday.” Perez experienced discomfort in his left elbow after failing to get out of the fourth Saturday night. … Texas infielder Josh Wilson accepted the outright assignment to Triple-A Round Rock. Wilson was designated for assignment May 8. … Houston will send left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who is 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA this season to the mound Tuesday against lefty Matt Harrison, who is 1-0, in the second game of the three-game.
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