The butt-puckering continues...
Before tonight, Scott Kazmir had allowed three runs against the Rangers over 21 innings spanning three starts as a member of the A's. Kazmir was the July pitcher of the month in the American League and hadn't allowed a run as a member of the Astros in 14 2/3 innings since being acquired from Oakland a week before the deadline. After allowing three unearned runs in a sloppy defensive first inning, Kazmir gave up a solo home run to Chris Gimenez in the 2nd to put the Rangers up 4-0.
Who had a Gimenez dong as the first earned run Kazmir would allow in an Astros uniform? Texas would go on to win 4-3 so essentially that first earned run allowed was the difference.
The Rangers started this ten game homestand with consecutive losses to the New York Yankees by a combined score of 27-7. A night later, word came out that the Rangers were set to acquire Cole Hamels. Since then, against three teams with a combined record of 179-143, the Rangers have reeled off seven wins in their last eight games to move back above .500 for the first time since July 3.
Texas finished the homestand with a 7-3 record and are now just five games back of the Astros in the West and are tied with the Twins in the AL at just two games back of a Wild Card spot.
Player of the Game: Nick Martinez wasn't at his best but it was his birthday and he gave the Rangers five innings of one-run ball in a win.