HOUSTON — Martin Perez threw a four-hitter for his first career complete game, leading the Texas Rangers to their seventh straight victory, 6-1 over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Chris Carter ruined Perez's shutout bid with a home run with two outs in the ninth inning.
Alex Rios had two hits, drove in a run and scored twice in his second game with the Rangers, who have won 12 of their last 13 games. Adrian Beltre also had two hits.
Perez (5-3) struck out a career-high eight while walking two in earning his second straight win. Perez has allowed four runs over his last 22 2-3 innings, spanning his last three starts.
Perez retired 15 of 17 batters from the third to the eighth, including nine in a row before Jake Elmore's single with two outs in the eighth.
Dallas Keuchel (5-7) allowed six runs and eight hits with eight strikeouts in 8 2-3 innings. He was the second Astros starter to go into the ninth this season, as Bud Norris threw eight-plus innings May 8 against the Los Angeles Angels.
Keuchel set down the first 13 batters before Rios beat out a grounder to short with one out in the fifth for the Rangers' first hit.
Geovany Soto then put the Rangers ahead 1-0 with a ground-rule double to center field.
