Dominguez single in 9th lifts Astros over Rangers

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Astros didn't realize how long it had been since they won a series against the Texas Rangers.

That's largely because no one on the current roster was on the team the last time it happened.

Matt Dominguez hit an RBI single off the right-field wall in the ninth inning and the Astros beat the Rangers 5-4 Wednesday night to win a series against their in-state rivals for the first time since 2008.

The Astros took two of three after losing 15 straight series to the Rangers. Houston overcame a four-run deficit to win.

''Oh man, it's been that long. Wow,'' said Houston starter Scott Feldman, who was playing for the Rangers when Houston last won a series against Texas from June 24-26, 2008. ''It's nice to get a series win against anyone, but I had no idea it had been that long. It's great. Hopefully we can just build on that and hopefully win the next series as well.''

Dexter Fowler singled with one out in the ninth, Jason Castro drew a walk and Dominguez hit a long fly ball off Nick Martinez (0-1). Fowler finished with a season-high three hits.

Chad Qualls (1-1) got the last two outs in the ninth for the win.

''It's definitely something that, from the dominance they've shown against us here of late, it's definitely something to be proud of,'' manager Bo Porter said. ''I think tonight was our biggest win as far as the team performance goes.''

Alex Rios hit a solo homer, Adrian Beltre had three hits and Prince Fielder drove in two runs for Texas.

''They just got us, and that's all I can say,'' Texas manager Ron Washington said. ''They earned it.''

The Astros trailed 4-0 before scoring two runs in the sixth. Rookie George Springer tied it with a two-run homer in the seventh, his third home run in the last seven games.

''It's obviously big for me as a player,'' Springer said. ''But just to help the team, to tie it up and give us a spark I guess was obviously big for me.''

Jose Altuve singled to start the seventh before Springer launched his third career home run - and first at home - into the back of the seats in the Crawford Boxes in left field to make it 4-all.

A pair of walks and a single by Dominguez loaded the bases for Houston with one out in the sixth inning. Pinch-hitter Jesus Guzman cut the lead to 4-1 with an RBI single to shallow center and Chris Carter drove another run home with his single that dropped just inside the left-field line.

Rios gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second. Fielder hit the third of three straight singles to send a run home and make it 2-0 in the third.

Elvis Andrus doubled to start the fifth inning and scored on a broken-bat single by Beltre to push the lead to 3-0. Fielder followed with an RBI double.

Feldman allowed a season-high 10 hits with four runs in five innings.

Texas starter Nick Tepesch allowed one run and two hits in 5 1-3 innings, striking out eight in his season debut in the majors. He was called up from Triple-A Round Rock earlier in the day.

Tepesch is the ninth different pitcher to start for the injury-plagued Rangers this season, which is tied with the Chicago White Sox for most in the majors.

''He did a good job. He really did,'' Washington said. ''He got us into the sixth inning and we had the pieces in the bullpen that we wanted in the game. We just didn't shut them down.''

NOTES: Andrus extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... Both teams are off on Thursday before Houston opens a series with the White Sox and Texas plays Toronto. ... The Rangers put LHPs Matt Harrison (back inflammation) and Martin Perez (left elbow inflammation) on the 15-day disabled list and recalled RHP Miles Mikolas and Tepesch from Triple-A to take their spots on the roster. ... Texas INF Donnie Murphy (neck strain) and LHP Joe Saunders (stress fracture in left ankle) will start rehabilitation assignments with Round Rock on Thursday. ... Houston put RHP Anthony Bass (right intercostal strain) on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 11, and recalled RHP Josh Fields from Triple-A Oklahoma City.