Rangers rattle Keuchel for Lone Star sweep

ARLINGTON — Not even Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel could put a stop to the Astros’ woes at Globe Life Park. Ian Desmond launched a two-out, three-run home run in the first inning off Keuchel to send the Rangers on their way to their fourth consecutive win, 7-4, over the Astros on Thursday night.

In sweeping the three-game series, the Rangers have won 11 of their last 13 against the Astros, including 10 in a row in Arlington.

“That was probably the best I felt out of my four starts,” Keuchel said. “I thought I was rolling early. Two bad pitches, both to Desmond. He put some good swings on them his first two-bats. I felt like it was there — bleeders, some singles, couple of doubles. Everything they did it was just like magic for them.”

Rangers starter A.J. Griffin (2-0) held the Astros to two runs and four hits in six innings to improve to 4-0 lifetime against Houston. Adrian Beltre had three hits for the Rangers, including a leadoff homer in the seventh off reliever Pat Neshek. Colby Rasmus homered twice for Houston, including a two-run shot in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-4.

“He looked pretty fresh,” said Rangers manager Jeff Banister of Griffin, who was working on seven days’ rest. “Little more extension, a little more life on the fastball, cutter had a little more bite to it. That slow breaking ball, you never know when he’s going to throw it and he drops it in there. It keeps hitters [out of] rhythm.”

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