Desmond, Griffin lead Rangers over Astros 7-4 for sweep

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Ian Desmond and A.J. Griffin helped the Texas Rangers keep up their strong start.

Desmond's first homer of the season was good for three runs and Griffin outpitched 2015 American League Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel as the Rangers beat the Houston Astros 7-4 on Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep.

The Rangers have won four straight and have swept three straight home series from the Astros for 10 total games.

Texas leads AL Central at 10-6 following last season's long climb out of a 12-18 hole in early May to win the division title. Rangers manager Jeff Banister downplayed the significance of sweeping last year's wild-card team that finished only two games behind them.

''A sweep of anybody is, obviously, anytime during the year is big,'' Banister said. ''It doesn't matter the name on the front of the jersey.''

Desmond's opposite-field homer in the first landed in the Texas bullpen beyond right-center following two-out singles by Adrian Beltre and Prince Fielder.

Beltre had three hits, including his third homer of the season in the seventh inning.

Griffin (2-0) trailed 1-0 two batters in after giving up back-to-back doubles to Jose Altuve and George Springer but allowed only one other run and four hits through six innings.

Griffin was another late addition to Texas' roster. He didn't pitch in the majors during 2014-15 following Tommy John surgery and signed a minor league deal with the Rangers in January. He said it was ''awesome'' to finally feel healthy again.

''I felt like me again,'' he said. ''I felt like I was just able to spin the ball the way I wanted, able to hit my spots better.''

Keuchel (2-2) gave up season highs of six runs and 13 hits in six innings. Keuchel didn't allow more than 11 hits in any game last season. The only time that he gave up more than six runs during 2015 was nine at Globe Life Park last September.

Desmond also doubled to go 4 for 11 in the series after previously going 5 for 46, raising his batting average from .109 to .158. A shortstop throughout his previous seven seasons in the majors, he was signed as a free agent on Feb. 29 and moved to left field.

''April's never been my month,'' said Desmond, who averaged 22 home runs the last four seasons for Washington. ''I'm believing in my swing. That's the stuff that I'm looking for. I'm not necessarily worried about hits.''

Colby Rasmus homered twice for Houston, giving him five for the season and his ninth career multi-homer game. He drove in three runs and has reached safely in 15 of 16 games.

''There is a sense that they somewhat have our number,'' Rasmus said. ''We have to continue to try to hold our heads up.''

Shawn Tolleson earned his sixth save in seven chances.

Ryan Rua, Bryan Holaday and Nomar Mazara also had two hits each for Texas.

ANDRUS EXTENDS STREAK

Texas' Elvis Andrus extended his hitting streak to eight games with a third-inning RBI triple to left field that Rasmus misjudged on a head-first dive toward the infield. He's hitting .429 during that span.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (shoulder) is scheduled to throw off a mound on Friday.

Rangers: RHP Keone Kela is scheduled for surgery on his pitching elbow that will likely sideline him for three months. To replace Kela on the roster, Texas recalled RHP Phil Klein from Triple-A Round Rock. ... OF Lewis Brinson at Double-A Frisco (shoulder) will miss at least a week.

UP NEXT

RHP Collin McHugh (1-2), who has allowed nine earned runs and 21 hits in 12 2/3 innings, will face the Red Sox in Houston. The Rangers will open a three-game road series against the White Sox with LHP Martin Perez (0-1), who has quality starts in each of his three appearances