HOUSTON _ The Rangers were shut out for the first time since July 15 as Dallas Keuchel pitched a complete-game three-hitter Friday night as the Astros won the opener 5-0 at Minute Maid Park. The Rangers had two hits in the first inning but Keuchel held them hitless for the next seven. Adrian Beltre's two-out double in the ninth finally snapped the string.
The Astros scored four runs in the third inning against Martin Perez. After a leadoff walk, four Astros hit safely, including Jose Altuve's run-scoring double and Carlos Correa's two-run single. Perez settled down and retired nine of the next 10 batters. Perez was charged with five runs on eight hits and three walks over seven innings. Tony Barnette pitched a scoreless eighth.
Keuchel escaped a first inning jam despite a Shin-Soo Choo single and Carlos Beltran double. Choo's lead-off single was erased by Ian Desmond's double play and Beltran and Adrian Beltre, who walked, were stranded when Rougned Odor grounded out to end the inning. Keuchel retired the next 12 batters and 17 of the next 18. In the seventh, Altuve's two-out double off the wall in right-center field scored George Springer to give the Astros a 5-0 lead.
