Recap: Texas vs. Houston
Arlington, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Lisalverto Bonilla became the first Texas Rangers pitcher to win his first three major-league starts in a 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
Bonilla (3-0) threw six shutout innings and was part of a starting lineup featuring seven rookies that finished off a three-game sweep of the Astros.
Rookies Ryan Rua and Rougned Odor homered for the Rangers, who improved to 11-1 in their last 12 games and to 12-6 since Tim Bogar took over as manager when Ron Washington resigned Sept. 5.
Jonathan Villar homered for the Astros and former Ranger Scott Feldman (8-12) remained winless in his last four starts since throwing a shutout against his former team on Aug. 30.
Bonilla had seven strikeouts and gave up four hits and two walks. Feldman, who is 0-2 in his last four outings, surrendered one run on Elvis Andrus' double in the fifth inning. He also went six frames, striking out six, walking four and giving up four hits.
The Rangers struck for a four-run rally in the seventh inning after Feldman came out of the game.
Odor hit his ninth homer of the season and Rua got his second, both off Jose Veras, to make it 5-0. Villar hit his seventh homer off Phil Klein in the eighth inning.
Bonilla allowed the first two batters of the game to reach base, then settled into a groove, Bogar said.
"That first inning he had a walk and a base hit and then he started making more quality pitches," Bogar said. "He doesn't have a heartbeat on the mound. He doesn't get excited."
In the top of the third, Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin threw Robbie Grossman out at home plate when Grossman tried to score from second base on Jake Marisnick's hit.