(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to continue their mastery of the Houston Astros this evening when the Lone Star State rivals open up a three- game set at Minute Maid Park.
The Rangers have won four straight Silver Boot trophies, awarded annually to the victor in the interleague matchup between the two clubs each year. It hasn't been much of a rivalry, though, lately, as Texas took two of three from the Astros earlier in the year and has won the season series in each of the last two years by a 5-1 margin, while compiling a 12-3 mark against their in- state rivals since the start of the 2009 campaign.
Texas, which has also won six in a row in Houston, will be looking to get back on track this evening after losing two of three over the weekend to the New York Mets, including an 8-5 loss in Sunday's rubber match in Arlington.
Derek Holland (6-3) was knocked around for 12 hits and seven runs -- just three earned -- in six-plus inning for Texas. Michael Young went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in a losing effort.
"I'm not going to rack my brain thinking about it. I'm just going to expect we'll get better," Young said about the defeat. "We have a lot of good people in this clubhouse, a lot of good confident players."
C.J. Wilson gets the call tonight for the Rangers, as he tries to bounce back from a sub-par outing his last time out against the Astros. Wilson surrendered four runs and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings of that one, but escaped without a decision in his team's 5-4 win. He is 2-1 lifetime against the Astros with a 3.94 ERA in 13 games, three of which have been starts.
"C.J. didn't have his best stuff," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "But what you saw was the best he had in his heart. That's what good pitchers do -- they may not have it, but they learn to fight. And he was out there fighting the whole time he was out there."
Wilson is 7-3 on the year with a 3.17 ERA.
Houston, meanwhile, was swept over the weekend by the Tampa Bay Rays and lost a wild 14-10 affair in Sunday's finale. The Astros gave up seven runs in the final two innings of that loss and have now blown 17 saves in 27 chances.
"I feel terrible for these guys because we are in a situation we need to win these close ball games," closer Mark Melancon said. "I feel like I let the team down, which is tough."
Carlos Lee knocked in three runs, while Jeff Keppinger and Matt Downs homered in the loss for the Astros, who have dropped six of seven overall and six of nine against the AL this season.
Wilton Lopez (1-4) allowed four runs on four hits over 2 1/3 innings to suffer the loss.
Rookie Jordan Lyles gets the call for the Astros tonight and is still searching for his first win of the year. Lyles, who is 0-2 with a 4.20 ERA, did not get a decision last Tuesday against Wilson and the Rangers, as he allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings.