Rangers @ Astros (June 24th-26th)

[Molina00]

Last night's series opener against Houston turned out to be an unexpected pitcher's duel between Eric Hurley and veteran Brian Moehler. Despite a late inning rally by Texas, the Astros still came out on top taking the first game 4-3.

Starting for Texas, Hurley allowed only 2 runs through 6 innings but ended up taking the loss (the first decision of his career). Brian Moehler pitched even better going 6.1 holding the Rangers to just one runs on 5 hits for the win.

The Rangers trailed 4-1 in the 9th when Ramon Vazquez slammed a 2-run homerun off Houston close Jose Valverde to make it a 4-3 game. The Rangers couldn't get anything else going and lost the series opener to tie the battle for the silver boot at 2 games a piece.

[Bon Bon]

The battle of the Lone Star State has begun.

[Molina00]

Turned out to be quite a battle too. The Rangers took game 2 in what turned out to be another pitcher's duel, although it was more like the Ranger pen vs. Roy Oswalt. Scott Feldman gave up 2 runs through 4 innings but the pen shutdown the Houston offense for the final 5 innings and the Rangers won 3-2 to take a 3-2 lead in the season series.

The Astros got the bats going in game 3 though scoring 7 runs on 15 hits in a 7-2 win. Kevin Millwood gave up all 7 runs and allowed 12 hits. The win tied the season series at games a piece and dropped the Rangers back down to .500 after going a game over .500 the day before.

The Rangers finished this years Battle for the Silver Boot with a 3-3 record but managed to keep the boot for the 2nd straight year by outscoring the Astros 34-28. It is also the 4th time in the last 5 years that the Rangers have beaten out the Astros.