Rangers focused on rival Astros with All-Star break looming

At the very least, the Texas Rangers ensured on Friday that the Houston Astros wouldn't bypass them in the American League West standings prior to the All-Star Game break.

The Rangers turned a four-run eighth inning into a 7-3 victory over the Astros in the opener of a three-game series between division rivals, and opened a three-game lead over Houston with two games left to play in the unofficial first half. Had the Astros swept the series, they would have entered the break a game up on the Rangers.

"As far as I'm concerned, we're starting playoff baseball in July," said Rangers first baseman Jake Burger, whose three-run home run capped the four-run frame. "Every game, backs against the wall, and go out there and give it our all.

"Great team win, and keep that momentum going (on Saturday)."

Right-hander Kumar Rocker (2-7, 3.95 ERA) is scheduled to start the second game of the series for the Rangers. He is 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA over his last four appearances and three starts, with 22 strikeouts against four walks in 18 2/3 innings. Rocker has dropped two consecutive starts at home and is 0-5 with a 4.70 ERA in his last eight starts at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Rocker will make his second career start against the Astros. He allowed four runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in a 9-0 home loss to Houston on May 25.

Right-hander Peter Lambert (7-5, 3.26 ERA) has Houston's starting assignment on Saturday as the Astros attempt to even the series. He carried a shutout into the sixth inning of a 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays last Sunday, allowing three hits and one walk with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Lambert is 5-1 with a 3.02 ERA over his last eight starts. Houston has won six of those games.

Lambert is 0-1 with a 7.27 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Rangers. He allowed five runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts across six innings in an 8-0 loss to Texas on May 17.

Following a rough series in Washington for their starting pitching, the Astros were hopeful that ace right-hander Hunter Brown could find his footing in the series opener against the Rangers. And while Brown was credited with a quality start after allowing three runs on four hits with four strikeouts over six innings, he issued five walks and labored for most of his 98-pitch outing.

It marked the fifth start for Brown since being reinstated from the injured list, where he spent two-plus months with a right shoulder strain. He has yet to regain the form that resulted in a top-3 finish in AL Cy Young voting last season, with Brown posting a 4.74 ERA in those starts.

Given the inconsistency of their rotation, the Astros will need Brown to reclaim his ace status sooner rather than later.

"I think stuff-wise, he's good," Astros manager Joe Espada said of Brown. "Now, command, maybe it's going to take a little bit of time. But I think (this) is a perfect example of when he gets going, he starts getting quick innings and gives you those six innings, and he gives you an opportunity to win the game.

"That's what good pitchers do once they get rolling. They start feeling their pitches, and they start executing. It was a good example of he felt good after he made an adjustment during the game and gave us six quality innings."

--Field Level Media