Rangers recap: Seven-run sixth ignites Texas blowout of Rays

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Xavier Cedeno (31) steps over a broken bat at first base to completes the infield out against Texas Rangers Mitch Moreland (18) during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, August 14, 2015. The Rays are 42-30 when they hit at least one homer.

The right-hander was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his first three starts against Texas before giving up five runs in a season-low 3 1/3 innings of a 5-4 loss to the Rangers on May 7.

“If I throw that ball into second base and keep it first and third, I feel that changes the whole complexion of the inning, so a bonehead play on my part”, Kiermaier said.

That was important because with two outs, Longoria – with his eighth hit in his past 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position – lashed a drive to left-center that scored two.

Adrian Beltre’s one-out single in the eight started the go-ahead rally off Jake McGee (1-2).

They obtained one in the second when Asdrubal Cabrera, persevering with his torrid hitting, doubled, went to 3rd on an errant pickoff and scored on a single by Jennings.

Following Perez, Sam Dyson pitched two scoreless innings and Shawn Tolleson earned his 22nd save.

The Astros trailed entering the fifth inning before scoring three runs, capped by the double by Lowrie to take a 3-1 lead.

The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to avoid getting swept at Texas and focus on the postseason. Veteran Yovani Gallardo faces off with visiting Tampa Bay for the second time in 2015. He’s batting. 288 with 13 RBI in his last 13 contests. There have never been four.

The Rays also got a break when centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier leaped above the fance to rob Prince Fielder of a home run in the fifth.

The final replay review in the seventh resulted in a 3-5 double play. Curt Casali was tagged on the shoulder sliding into third. Crew chief Mark Carlson initially called an out before signaling safe.

Tampa Bay rookie starter Nathan Karns, who went to high school on a few miles from the Rangers’ ballpark, allowed two runs and two hits in 4 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. He said that did not have an impact on his performance, even though he walked five batters and hit another.

Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton, left, hits a tie breaking sacrifice fly in front of Tampa Bay Rays catc …

Hamels was scratched from his scheduled start Thursday because of a sore left groin. He threw a bullpen Friday with no problems…. He missed 96 games because of left knee bursitis. He could catch a bullpen session Saturday…. Right-handed hitters were 7-for-21 and are hitting.

The Tampa Bay Rays have climbed back into the American League playoff race by winning four straight and start a Lone Star State trip with the first of three against the Texas Rangers on Friday.