Desmond’s homer, Griffin’s pitching lead Rangers to sweep of Astros

Ian Desmond hit his first homer Thursday for the Texas Rangers, a three-run shot in the first-inning, and A.J Griffin allowed two runs in six innings in a 7-4 victory that finished off a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros.

The Rangers beat reigning American League Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, scoring six of their runs against the left-hander. The run the came against the Astros’ bullpen was a solo homer by Adrian Beltre.　　

Hitting: Two-out singles by Beltre and Prince Fielder set the table for Desmond, who drove a pitch into the Rangers’ bullpen in right-center field for a 3-1 lead. ... The Rangers had 14 hits, three by Beltre and two apiece by four other hitters. ... Beltre’s homer, to straightaway center field, was his third of the season.

Pitching: Griffin improved to 2-0 with his best outing. He logged 108 pitches in six innings and allowed only four hits. ... One was a solo homer by Colby Rasmus in the fourth. ... The lefty-hitting Rasmus hit a two-run homer off Tony Barnette with two outs in the eighth and with left-hander Jake Diekman warming in the bullpen. ... Shawn Tolleson has six saves this season. He worked the ninth for a third straight game.

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 9:51 PM with the headline "Desmond’s homer, Griffin’s pitching lead Rangers to sweep of Astros."