Streaky Rangers beat Phillies

Texas Rangers' Yu Darvish of Japan throws to the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 16, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP)

The Texas Rangers (20-20) beat the Philadelphia Phillies (14-22) 5-1 in the opener of their three-game series and extend their winning streak to seven.

RF Nomar Mazara gave Texas an early lead with a two-out home run in the first inning. It was his sixth long ball of the season.

The Rangers doubled their lead in the fourth. 2B Rougned Odor led off with a double and 1B Mike Napoli followed with a walk. Both runners advanced one base each on a throwing error by C Cameron Rupp. C Robinson Chirinos grounded out next but Rougned Odor managed to come home for the 2-0 lead.

Texas added another run in the fifth inning. LF Delino DeShields walked to lead off the frame and crossed home plate on a two-out double from DH Jonathan Lucroy.

The Phillies scored their only run in the seventh. DH Tommy Joseph led off with a single but was thrown out when RF Michael Saunders hit into fielder’s choice next. 3B Maikel Franco followed with a walk. Two outs later, SS Freddy Galvis singled and Michael Saunders came home to cut the deficit to two.

In the eighth inning, Texas put the game out of reach. Rougned Odor walked with one out and Mike Napoli followed with his eighth home run of the year.

Philadelphia’s SP Jerad Eickhoff (0-4) pitched 6 innings, giving up 7 hits, 2 walks and 2 earned runs while striking out 8. He now has a 4.53 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP on the season.

Texas’ SP Yu Darvish (4-2) went 7 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks and 1 earned run while fanning 9. His ERA and WHIP improved to 2.76 and 1.09, respectively.

Mike Napoli went 3-for-3 with 1 run, 1 HR and 2 RBI. He is batting .183 and has 16 runs, 8 HR and 20 RBI on the year.