Rios hits RBI triple, scores winning run in Texas debut to help Rangers top Astros 5-4

HOUSTON — Alex Rios starred in his Texas debut, tying the game with an RBI triple in the eighth inning and scoring the go-ahead run to help the Rangers to a 5-4 comeback victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Elvis Andrus added a two-run homer as the Rangers extended their winning streak to a season-high six games.

Rios, who was acquired from the Chicago White Sox on Friday, tripled off reliever Lucas Harrell (5-13) in the eighth inning to tie it after a double by A.J. Pierzynski. Rios then slid feet first into home on a ball hit by Mitch Moreland, scoring when catcher Jason Castro dropped the ball for an error to put Texas up 5-4.

The Rangers trailed by two in the seventh before the Astros' bullpen failed them again, with Kevin Chapman allowing Andrus' first home run this season to tie it at 3.

The Astros regained the lead when Brandon Barnes scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of that inning.

Pierzynski hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.

Texas starter Derek Holland allowed six hits and three runs in six innings. Jason Frasor (3-2) allowed one run in the seventh for the win and Joe Nathan threw a scoreless ninth for his 34th save.

It was the first multihit game since July 3 for Carter, who has been in a monthlong slump.

Jurickson Profar reached on an error by Jake Elmore to start the seventh inning. Chapman retired the next two batters before Andrus sent an 82 mph slider into the Crawford Boxes in left field.

Andrus was greeted by his enthusiastic teammates who jumped up and down, patted his head and gave him high-fives as he entered the dugout.

The shot ended a 557 at-bat homerless streak for Andrus. He shook off a tough night where he struck out on his first three at-bats with his first homer since Sept. 4.

Barnes was at third in the seventh inning when a pitch by Frasor bounced in the dirt, off Pierzynski's arm and toward the Rangers dugout, allowing Barnes to easily trot home to make it 4-3.

Carter's no-doubter, which landed on the train tracks atop left field, pushed Houston's lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning.

Leonys Martin walked to start the fifth before Andrus struck out for the third time. He had a few angry words with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi before Cuzzi finally lifted his mask and told Andrus to get off the field.

Pierzynski launched his homer into the second deck in right field with one out in the sixth inning to get Texas within 2-1.

Houston got the run back in the bottom of that inning when Matt Dominguez hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to make it 3-1.

Starter Brad Peacock yielded three hits and a run in six innings for the Astros.