Dallas Keuchel blanks Texas Rangers 8-0

Dallas Keuchel picked up his fourth win of the year with a masterful complete game shutout of the Texas Rangers tonight at Minute Maid Park. Keuchel got plenty of tun support too.

L.J. Hoes and Carlos Corporan homered for Houston in the 8-0 rout over their division rivals.

Keuchel’s 10-pitch second inning, in which he struck out the side, was a preview of things to come. Keuchel struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter all night. The Rangers managed only seven hits, one of which was a bunt single. Prince Fielder was also thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double in the fourth inning. Fielder was originally called safe but after Bo Porter challenged, the call was overturned.

Carlos Corporan and L.J. Hoes (Andrew Richardson-USA TODAY Sports)

Hoes got things going with a 2-run homer off Matt Harrison in the second. A Dexter Fowler RBI single later that same inning would chase Harrison from the game with what was later reported to be a stiff back. Justin Germano didn’t fare much better in relief of Harrison. The Astros added five runs against Germano in his 3 & 1/3 innings of work.

But Keuchel was the big story tonight. The Astros lefty needed only 108 pitches to pick up his first ever win against the Rangers. Keuchel had pinpoint control on all of his pitches and made several hitters look foolish along the way. The complete game performance also gave the bullpen a valuable night off.

Scott Feldman takes the mound tomorrow against Nick Tepesch as the Astros try to win the series and drop the Rangers below the .500 mark.