Texas blanks Houston again behind Ogando Central texas holes-in-one

HOUSTON — A day after watching Yu Darvish come within one out of a perfect game, Alexi Ogando was determined to pitch well to help the Texas Rangers wrap up the three-game series against Houston with a win.

Ogando got things started well and four Texas relievers finished it off to shut out the Astros again, combining for a five-hitter in the Rangers’ 4-0 win over the Astros on Wednesday.

“It was a spectacular game, and it certainly motivated me to pitch well today,” Ogando said in Spanish through a translator.

Lance Berkman doubled in a run for the Rangers a day after they blanked Houston 7-0 behind Darvish’s nearly historic gem.

It is the first time the Rangers have pitched consecutive shutouts since they had three straight in July 2011.

Ogando (1-0) allowed four hits with a careerhigh 10 strikeouts in 6 ⅓ innings. The Astros have struck out 43 times in their first three games.

“Ogando is known for striking folks out,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “He had a good fastball, he has a tremendous slider and now he’s got a changeup and a curveball to go with all of that.”

It’s the most strikeouts a pitching staff has combined for in the first three games of a season in major league history, and the most since Cleveland struck out 42 in the first three of the 1966 season.

“Yesterday, it was more about their guy, and today it was more about our guys,” Houston manager Bo Porter said when asked about the strikeouts. “We just had our guys expanding the zone way too often. We need to make an adjustment and do a better job. The fastballs that we had an opportunity to do something with, we either fouled them off or didn’t get them (in play).”

The Rangers are also the fourth team in major league history since 1916 to start the season by striking out 10 or more batters in each of their first three games.

Robbie Ross, Tanner Scheppers and Michael Kirkman allowed one hit combined in the next 1⅔ innings. Closer Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth.

Houston starter Philip Humber (0-1) allowed five hits and a run in 5 ⅔ innings in his Astros debut.

Nelson Cruz and A.J. Pierzynski had two hits apiece and drove in a run each for the Rangers.

Berkman finished his first series with the Rangers 6-for-10 with three RBIs.

“He’s what I expected,” Washington said. “He certainly knows what he’s doing up there in that box. He’s a pro. He’s a tremendous addition to us.”

Bob Bowman, 7-iron, 150-yard 6th hole at Flintrock Falls; witnesses: Jim Russel, Tom Wiles, Dave Wilson

Rex Esau, 9-iron, 129-yard 2nd hole at Great Hills; witnesses: Dana Oaks, Fred Southard, Mark Edwards

Dowe Gullatt, 7-iron, 126-yard 8th hole at Austin Country Club; witnesses: Dave Lyons, Ron Paynter

James Guyton, 9-iron, 113-yard 15th hole at Lions Municipal; witnesses: Fred Hardaway, Michael Bieck

Dennis Hendon, 7-iron, 158-yard 8th hole at Crystal Falls; witness: Terry Rudd

Ed Hilpert, 8-iron, 151-yard 13th hole at Roy Kizer; witness: Jim Hackney

Max Horton, 6-iron, 143-yard 8th hole at Horseshoe Bay Ram Rock; witnesses: Jim Long, TK Bouressa,Jim Jorgenson, Gary Parsons

Mathius Jules, 8-iron, 138-yard 8th hole at Crystal Falls; witnesses: Chris Licon, Jimmie Martinez, Ray Maldonado

Darlene Marion, 8-iron, 110-yard 6th hole at Lago Vista; witnesses: Bob Martel, Al Bouma

Sid McClung, 163-yard 18th hole at Lago Vista; witnesses: Doyle Dodson, Jack Aarestad, Dave Hougton

Brian Monn, 5-iron, 154-yard 3rd hole at Teravista; witnesses: Jim Bassett, Lisa Lucas

Bill Schaber, 5-iron, 144-yard 15th hole at Balcones; witnesses: Maria Schaber, Dave Roon, Laurie Roon

John Wilcox, 8-iron, 155-yard 7th hole at Delaware Springs; witnesses: Bob Musselmann, Buddy Coker

ScottyWyman, 6-hybrid, 105-yard 13th hole at Delaware Springs; witnesses: Wanda Ramiller, Mindy Gray, Cindy Fry