ARLINGTON, Texas -- The last three weeks of this Texas Rangers season have turned into something good.
A 2-1 victory for the Rangers over the Astros on Tuesday night extended their win streak to three games. The Rangers (64-93) have also won 10 of their past 11 games.
So much for losing 100 games.
Nick Martinez pitched well, leaving after 6 2/3 shutout innings to earn only his fifth win of the season. Yet Martinez, a rookie right-hander, has pitched well of late.
The 24-year-old has given up only seven runs in his past 29 2/3 innings, spanning five starts. Martinez's hope is that a strong finish to the 2014 season will allow him to get a chance to compete for a starting job next season.
He gets one more chance to do this when he pitches in the regular-season finale on Sunday against Oakland.
How it happened: Robinson Chirinos broke a scoreless game with a solo shot, traveling 405 feet, to dead center field to make the score 1-0 in the fourth. J.P. Arencibia followed it up with a double to right center, and after getting moved over by Guilder Rodriguez, he scored on Daniel Robertson's single to center.
It was all the Rangers would need. Although Texas left the bases loaded in the seventh, when Arencibia grounded into an inning-ending double play, Martinez and relievers Spencer Patton and Neal Cotts made the lead stand.
How did Martinez do? Martinez earned his first victory at home. Martinez kept the Astros off base with a variety of pitches and had some trouble in the second inning when he gave up a pair of two-out hits. But Martinez struck out Jon Singleton to end the inning. He got into trouble again in the seventh when Marwin Gonzalez reached on a two-out double. Patton came in and struck out Singleton to end the threat and keep the game at 2-0. It was the second time this season Martinez has left a game without giving up a run. On July 22, he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the New York Yankees. He departed with the game scoreless and the Yankees eventually won it in 14 innings, 2-1.
The Lone Star Series: The Silver Boot remains in Houston, but the Rangers had lost the past four series to the Astros. Tuesday night's victory has given the Rangers a series win over the Astros and they're now 8-11 against them this season. In the past few weeks, the Rangers have won their past four series, beating Houston, the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland and Atlanta. During this stretch, the Rangers swept Atlanta and Oakland.
What's next?: RHP Lisalverto Bonilla (2-0, 4.30) vs. RHP Scott Feldman (8-11, 3.82) on Wednesday night.