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HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros were trying to stay upbeat after their latest extra-inning loss dropped them to 0-11 in such games this season.

The young team hopes the experience of playing in games like this will help them in the future.

Danny Espinosa hit a two-run homer early, and his RBI single in the 12th inning lifted the Washington Nationals to a 3-2 win over the Astros on Tuesday night.

"We have to just build off these games," Houston's Brett Wallace said. "We're not winning them, but there is a lot to learn. ... We just have keeping building off of that, and eventually those balls will fall."

Michael Morse was 0 for 4 when he doubled to start the 12th inning and extend his career-high hitting streak to 16 games. He was replaced by pinch-runner Cesar Izturis, who was making his first appearance for Washington after being claimed off waivers from Milwaukee on Monday.

Roger Bernadina advanced Izturis to third with a sacrifice bunt. Espinosa's sharp grounder off Mickey Storey (0-1) skipped past the pitcher for a hit that brought Izturis home and gave the Nationals their second straight extra-inning win over Houston.

Washington beat the Astros 5-4 in 11 innings on Monday.

For the Astros, owners of baseball's worst record, it was another difficult game in a season full of them.

"I stayed on the field with the guys to tell them how much I appreciate all that they have gone through the last couple of nights," Houston manager Brad Mills said. "It's been tough."

Houston's Steve Pearce singled off Tyler Clippard in the 12th before Carlos Corporan drew a two-out walk. Bernadina, the center fielder, crashed into the wall while making a diving catch on a ball hit by Wallace to secure the win.

"I put the ball in the gap, and I thought I might split it, but he made a great play," Wallace said. "He is a good center fielder, and that is what they do. It's unfortunate, but we just have to keep going."

Washington pinch-hitter Chad Tracy doubled with two outs in the 10th for the only hit by either team in the first two extra innings.

Drew Storen (1-0) retired the last two hitters in the 11th for the win, and Clippard earned his 23rd save.

Pearce drew a two-out walk in the ninth before Ryan Mattheus intentionally walked pinch-hitter Scott Moore, but pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic grounded out to send the game to the 10th.

Ben Francisco gave Houston an early lead with a two-run homer off Ross Detwiler to the Crawford Boxes in left field in the first inning. The lead was short-lived as Espinosa tied it at 2-all with his two-run shot to right field off Jordan Lyles in the second.

Both pitchers quickly got back on track.

Detwiler set down the next 10 Astros he faced, with Houston's next hit not coming until back-to-back singles by Pearce and Matt Downs with two outs in the fourth inning.

Detwiler retired Brandon Barnes, who was making his major league debut on Tuesday, and allowed just one baserunner — a walk in the sixth — after that. He was replaced by Michael Gonzalez for the eighth inning.

Detwiler allowed three hits and two runs with two strikeouts in seven innings.

Jose Altuve got Houston's first hit since the fourth inning with a two-out single in the eighth. He stole second base, but the Astros came away empty when Michael Gonzalez retired Marwin Gonzalez.

Lyles was equally effective, retiring the next nine batters he faced after the homer. Jesus Flores broke the streak with a double with two outs in the fifth.

Lyles walked a batter in the sixth and seventh innings, but didn't give up another hit until he was chased by a single by pinch-hitter Jayson Werth to start the eighth.

Wesley Wright replaced Lyles and struck out two, before Fernando Rodriguez threw 1 1-3 perfect innings.

Lyles yielded three hits and two runs with six strikeouts in seven-plus innings.

Washington manager Davey Johnson believes the Astros have reason to be optimistic after seeing Lyles pitch a night after rookie Dallas Keuchel faced his team.

"They're having a rough year, but they've got some good, young players," Johnson said. "I like those last two pitchers I've seen, so the future is probably pretty good over there. They held down a pretty good hitting club. They're wearing me out."

NOTES: Werth, who left Monday night's game with sore legs, was held out of the lineup on Tuesday, but he pinch-hit in the eighth inning. Werth was reinstated last Thursday after missing almost three months with a broken left wrist. ... Houston placed CF Jordan Schafer on the 15-day disabled list with an injured left shoulder on Tuesday. The Astros aren't sure how long the injury will keep him out. "I really have no timetable," Schafer said. "Whenever I feel healthy, whenever I get better, then I'll get back in there." Houston purchased the contract of Barnes to take Schafer's spot on the roster.

BOSTON (AP) — That's the Ryan Dempster the Texas Rangers hoped they got at the trade deadline.

Dempster rebounded from a rough debut with Texas by pitching shutout ball into the seventh inning, Ian Kinsler had a pair of RBI singles and the Rangers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

"Anytime you have a rough one you want to get out there the next day," Dempster said. "Those five days take a long time. I think just knowing the lineup a little bit facing these guys. I was able to use the fastball and had a good split."

Dempster (1-0) allowed three unearned runs, six hits, struck out six and walked one in 6 2-3 innings.

Acquired from the Chicago Cubs minutes before last week's non-waiver trade deadline, he was tagged for eight runs in 4 2-3 innings by the Angels in his first Rangers' start on Thursday.

On Tuesday, he showed why he was the one of the top prizes at the deadline.

"Even though he gave up all those runs against Anaheim, he kept us in that ballgame and we won that ballgame," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He had a two-point-something ERA, leading the National League in ERA, leading the National League in (batting average) against. We know he's capable of getting outs, and he proved that tonight, without a shadow of a doubt. We're very happy to have him. We certainly need his leadership in the front part of our rotation."

Rangers outfielder David Murphy knew how Dempster felt, having been dealt by Boston to the Rangers at the deadline in 2007.

"He's a veteran and he's an easygoing guy to begin with, but I think as a man you want to earn your keep," he said. "Obviously after not having his best stuff his first outing, he wanted to turn that around as quickly as possible. I think he did that tonight."

Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz each had two hits and drove in a run for Texas.

Will Middlebrooks had a pinch-hit three-run homer for the Red Sox, who have lost five of seven.

The AL West-leading Rangers have lost three straight only three times this season.

Jon Lester (5-10) gave up four runs on six hits in 6 2-3 innings. He's 0-5 in his last six starts.

"It's another heck of a performance. We didn't score the runs and he didn't get the breaks," Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. "Couple of curveballs to a couple of left-handers wound up hurting him."

Lester, expected to be one of the club's top starters, hasn't won since June 27.

"I can't keep talking about being frustrated and all this stuff," he said. "Everybody obviously knows here that we're frustrated and we don't like losing. ... But there's positives for me personally in this game that I'm going to take and go forward to the next one."

Boston's Dustin Pedroia was called out on an attempted check swing by first base umpire Paul Nauert in the eighth and ejected in the top of the ninth.

"It looked like he checked his swing from our vantage point," said Valentine, who came out after his second baseman was tossed.

Until Middlebrooks belted his homer, it was very similar to when Dempster faced the Red Sox earlier this season.

He mixed a sharp splitter with a well-spotted fastball to keep Boston's hitters off-balance.

Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 22nd save.

With Texas leading 4-0 and two outs in the seventh, Kinsler misplayed Ryan Kalish's grounder for an error. Middlebrooks followed by hitting the first pitch over the Green Monster — where a fan reached out to grab the ball near the top of the wall. The call was reviewed and upheld after a lengthy review.

Cruz's RBI single made it 5-3 in the eighth. Hamilton's single made it 6-3 in the ninth.

Dempster worked seven shutout innings against Boston in Chicago's win on June 15.

The Rangers broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the sixth. After taking a close pitch for a ball with a 1-2 count, Murphy had a leadoff double. One out later, Kinsler singled off the top of the left-field wall, advanced on a groundout and scored on Hamilton's single to right.

In the seventh, Murphy had a sacrifice fly and Kinsler added an RBI single, making it 4-0.

Carl Crawford doubled in the first, but was picked off second. Cody Ross opened the second with a double, but was stranded.

Dempster then retired 14 of the next 15 — allowing only Ross' two-out double in the fourth — until he walked Pedroia in the sixth.

The Red Sox were coming off an eight-double game in Monday's win and three of the first four balls they hit into play Tuesday night were off the Monster, including two doubles.

NOTES: Rangers SS Andrus was back in the lineup after missing Monday's game with a sore right shoulder. ... Texas C Mike Napoli didn't start after catching four straight games. ... Boston's David Ortiz, on the 15-day DL since July 18 with a strained right Achilles, took batting practice on the field and said hopes to return this weekend when the Red Sox play in Cleveland. ... For the second straight day, Rangers OF Hamilton spent a long time signing autographs, posing for pictures and joking with the fans on the field next to Texas' dugout during BP. ... Boston RHP Clay Buchholz wore a large Frisbee-type disc around his neck for a good portion of BP. ... Shawn Thornton, Tuukka Rask and Daniel Paille of the Boston Bruins took BP on the field about 3½ hours before the game.

BOSTON (AP) — The Texas Rangers have placed catcher Yorvit Torrealba on waivers Wednesday before their game against the Boston Red Sox.

Torrealba, who batted .236 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 45 games, was designated for assignment when Texas acquired catcher Geovany Soto from the Chicago Cubs on July 31.

He will become a free agent if he's not claimed on Friday.

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston starter Armando Galarraga wasn't happy that he gave up a home run to opposing pitcher Gio Gonzalez on Wednesday night.

He was even less pleased about walking six batters in just five-plus innings.

Gonzalez pitched a nine-inning complete game and hit a home run — both career firsts — to lead the Washington Nationals to a 4-3 victory over the Astros.

Galarraga (0-2) yielded six hits and three runs to remain winless in three starts this season since being promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

"I need to make an adjustment," he said. "I need to make a big adjustment. I threw the ball bad. I need to be honest with myself. Six walks after seven walks. There's not an excuse for that. I have to make an adjustment and work on my mechanics."

Nationals manager Davey Johnson was hoping Gonzalez (14-6) could go deep into this game after his bullpen had been taxed with games of 11 and 12 innings to start this series.

He got just what he wanted from Gonzalez, whose other complete game was an eight-inning outing when he was with Oakland in a 4-1 loss at the White Sox on Aug. 1, 2010.

Things got dicey in the ninth when he allowed three hits and a run and had the tying run on third before striking out Matt Downs to end the game.

"We got the opportunity, but he came through even with his pitch count getting high," Houston manager Brad Mills said of Gonzalez, who threw 117 pitches.

He allowed nine hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Gonzalez broke a 1-1 tie with his two-run, two-out, first-pitch homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field in the second inning. Galarraga plunked Kurt Suzuki to set up the shot.

"Any time you hit a guy with two outs and then the pitcher hits a home run that winds up beating you, that's a tough pill to swallow," Mills said.

Houston cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning, but Washington added an insurance run on an error in the seventh.

Brandon Barnes got his first career hit on a single with one out in the ninth. Barnes scored from second on a single by Ben Francisco with two outs to get Houston within 4-3.

Jose Altuve singled after that before Gonzalez got Downs to wrap up his big night.

Galarraga got off to a tough start, walking the first two batters he faced. Ryan Zimmerman followed with a single, but Steve Lombardozzi couldn't beat the throw and was out at home.

Washington took a 1-0 lead when Bryce Harper scored on a balk. The play first looked to be a sacrifice fly by Adam LaRoche, but replays showed that home plate umpire Angel Hernandez called the balk before Galarraga threw the pitch that La Roche hit.

Altuve hit a leadoff double for Houston and scored on a single by Justin Maxwell to tie it at 1-all.

With Washington up 3-2 after Gonzalez's homer, J.D. Martinez singled with one out in the fourth, took second on a balk and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Corporan to get Houston within 3-2.

The Nationals were 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

A big opportunity came in the sixth when Jayson Werth walked to start the inning before Danny Espinosa singled. Suzuki drew a walk to load the bases and chase Galarraga, who was replaced by Xavier Cedeno. Gonzalez grounded into a forceout. Cedeno then retired Lombardozzi and struck out Harper.

Harper was unhappy with a couple of the calls during the at-bat. First he headed toward first base on a 3-1 count that was called a strike and later yelled: "No way" when he struck out looking.

Zimmerman doubled in the seventh and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored and Werth reached on an error by third baseman Downs when he bounced the throw to first base.

NOTES: Nationals LF Michael Morse singled in the fourth inning to extend his career-long hitting streak to 17 games. ... Johnson said before the game that Werth, who was held out of Tuesday's lineup with soreness in his legs, was better on Wednesday, but "not good enough to play center field." ... These teams wrap up the four-game series on Thursday when Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmermann opposes Lucas Harrell.

BOSTON (AP) — Following Josh Hamilton's resurgence, the Texas Rangers outslugged the Boston Red Sox.

Hamilton continued to work his way back from of a prolonged slump and the Rangers belted four homers to beat the Red Sox 10-9 despite blowing a late four-run lead Wednesday.

Hamilton homered among his three hits and had four RBIs for Texas, which couldn't hold a 9-5 edge before pulling out its sixth win in eight games.

"He's the heart of the lineup," said right fielder Nelson Cruz, who added a two-run homer. "When he's doing good, everybody's seeing more pitches to hit and drive runners in."

Mitch Moreland and Geovany Soto also homered for the Rangers. It was Soto's first with Texas since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a non-waiver deadline deal last week.

It was only Hamilton's fourth multi-hit game in his last 27. Before Wednesday, he had just two homers and 16 RBIs since the All-Star break.

"I saw him coming out of it a week or so ago," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He's laying off the real bad pitches. Because Josh is a swinger, he's going to swing at some pitches. ... He's swinging the bat well. When he's going real well is when there's RBIs out there, and he's not missing very many."

The AL West-leading Rangers took two of three from Boston, closing their road trip at 4-2.

Will Middlebrooks had a three-run homer for the second straight game, and Cody Ross added a solo shot and drove in two runs for Boston, which has lost six of eight and went 4-6 on its longest homestand of the season.

Adrian Gonzalez added three RBI doubles for the Red Sox.

Alexi Ogando (2-0) worked two perfect innings of relief for the win. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 23rd save, striking out the last two batters with a runner on second.

But with all the power displayed, it took Adrian Beltre's tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to lift Texas to the win.

With the score tied 9-all, Elvis Andrus walked and moved to third on Hamilton's single off Clayton Mortensen (1-1). Alfredo Aceves relieved before Beltre's sacrifice fly.

Josh Beckett gave up a season-high eight runs on eight hits — three homers — in his first start for Boston since leaving July 31 with a back spasm. It's the seventh time he's given up eight or more runs at Fenway Park, four times against the Yankees, the last coming May 7, 2010.

Beckett's career-best streak of starts without surrendering a home run was halted at 12. It was the longest in the majors' this season and most by a Red Sox starter since Mel Parnell's 14 straight in 1948.

"The back felt good. Just too many pitches down the middle of the plate and everything was up," he said. "Even when I was on the corners it was still up."

Trailing 9-5 in the seventh, Boston tied it when Gonzalez had his third run-scoring double and Middlebrooks homered into the left-field seats off reliever Roy Oswalt.

The Rangers had chased Beckett and built an 8-5 lead in the sixth. Soto homered into the seats above the Green Monster after David Murphy singled. Beckett was booed loudly as he walked slowly off the mound after being pulled.

Cruz's homer off Mortensen made it 9-5 in the seventh.

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine felt his lineup showed extra fight despite a poor outing by Beckett.

"I don't think it's deflating. I think the offense feels good when they're scoring runs," he said. "They think they're swinging the bats well and that they can come back."

With the score tied 3-3 in the fifth, Moreland led off with a homer off a TV stanchion in straightaway center. Andrus singled before Hamilton hit a shot deep into the right-field seats for his 30th home run, making it 6-3 and giving the slugger his third season of 30 or more homers.

Gonzalez's second RBI double had cut the score to 6-4 in the fifth. Texas starter Matt Harrison then loaded the bases with consecutive two-out walks before he was lifted for Oswalt. Gonzalez scored on catcher Soto's passed ball, slicing it to 6-5, but Kelly Shoppach struck out to end the threat.

Harrison was charged with five runs — four earned — on eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. Washington said he was feeling sick and got an IV during the game.

The Rangers continued Beckett's season-long first-inning misery, jumping ahead 3-0. Hamilton had a two-run triple into the center-field triangle and scored on Beltre's sacrifice fly.

Beckett's ERA rose to 10.42 in the first innings of his starts.

In the first, Gonzalez's RBI double and Ross' run-scoring single made it 3-2.

Ross' homered in the third — his first in 18 games — just inside the left-field foul pole, tying it at 3.

NOTES: It was just Hamilton's second homer in his last 19 games. ... Red Sox DH David Ortiz, on the 15-day DL since July 18 with a strained right Achilles, did some agility drills and looked good running the bases about two hours before the game. On Tuesday, he took batting practice on the field and said he hopes to return when the club plays in Cleveland this weekend. ... Boston placed RHP Vicente Padilla on the 15-day DL before the game with right arm tightness and recalled RHP Mortensen from Triple-A Pawtucket. ... The Rangers put C Yorvit Torrealba on waivers. If he's not claimed by Friday he'll become a free agent. He was designated for assignment when the club acquired Soto from the Cubs on July 31.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — With Josh Hamilton and Yu Darvish regaining their form from the first half of the season, the Texas Rangers are beginning to pull away in the American League West.

Hamilton hit his 32nd homer and drove in three runs, Darvish struck out eight and the Texas Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 8-3 Sunday.

The Rangers are 10-3 since having their division lead cut down to three games on July 31. After Oakland lost Sunday, the Rangers now top the AL West by 6½ games.

"I just hope we can maintain what we have been doing," Hamilton said.

Hamilton is a big reason for Texas' surge. He was mired in a lengthy slump when manager Ron Washington gave him a mental day off on July 28. The slugger was then briefly dropped to the fifth spot in the lineup for the first time in two years.

The 2010 AL MVP has responded since then, hitting three home runs with 15 RBIs in 11 games. The Rangers have gone 8-3 in that span.

Hamilton had a two-run drive in the first inning, taking the major league lead and matching his career high. He added an RBI single to give him 99 RBIs, which is also tops in baseball.

Darvish (12-8) allowed six hits and walked five to snap a personal two-game losing streak and help the Rangers take two of three from the Tigers.

After starting the season 10-4, Darvish went 1-4 with a 7.04 ERA in six starts before Sunday.

"He was the king and he acted like he was the king on the mound," Washington said.

Ian Kinsler drove in two runs and Elvis Andrus scored three times. The Rangers, who knocked off the Tigers in last season's AL championship series, won the season series 7-3.

Miguel Cabrera had a two-run double as the Tigers slipped two games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

Rick Porcello (9-7) gave up nine hits and six runs. The right-hander is 2-3 lifetime against the Rangers with a 7.83 ERA in five starts.

The Tigers committed three errors and threw three wild pitches. Detroit's offense was held to 11 hits in losing the last two games.

"It was ugly, really ugly," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. Darvish improved to 3-0 against the Tigers this season as he avoided his first three-game losing streak.

Darvish walked Andy Dirks and Cabrera with two outs in the seventh. Robbie Ross relieved and got Prince Fielder to pop out.

With temperatures over 100 degrees, Darvish threw 120 pitches.

"I felt like I was stronger in the end," Darvish said through an interpreter. "So the heat didn't affect me."

The Rangers next travel to New York for a four-game set against the Yankees in a matchup of the two top teams in the AL.

"We always enjoy playing in New York," Hamilton said. "But it's just another series."

Hamilton's 419-foot long ball — his third homer in four games — easily cleared the fence in center and gave Texas a 2-0 lead. He equaled his career high in home runs, a mark he established in 2008 and 2010.

Texas scored three runs in the third with the help of two Detroit errors.

Kinsler's RBI double made it 3-0, and he came home when Porcello made an errant throw toward third after fielding a hopper.

Hamilton capped the inning with an RBI single to right that Brennan Boesch booted, allowing Hamilton to advance to third.

Texas increased its advantage to 6-0 on Kinsler's sacrifice fly in the fourth before the Tigers touched up Darvish.

"I wanted to get back to my old form," Darvish said. "This was a big step."

Omar Infante's RBI double in the fifth snapped a 12-inning scoreless slump, and Cabrera's two-run double off Darvish gave him 98 RBIs and brought the Tigers to 6-3.

The Rangers scored twice in the seventh thanks to three wild pitches and an error.

NOTES: Texas infielder Alberto Gonzalez cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. The Rangers had designated Gonzalez for assignment Friday. . Detroit LHP Daniel Schlereth (left shoulder tendinitis) pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance for Class-A Lakeland on Saturday. . Rangers RHP Koji Uehara (right lat strain) threw a bullpen session Sunday. He is scheduled to pitch batting practice in Double-A Frisco on Wednesday.

HOUSTON (AP) — The luck of the throwback jerseys finally ran out for the Houston Astros.

After back-to-back wins donning uniforms that paid homage to better days in the 1990s, it was back to the ugly present for the Astros, whose sloppy defense and continued lack of clutch hitting on Sunday sunk them in a 5-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Right-hander Jordan Lyles (2-9) picked up his fifth loss in seven starts despite another solid outing to remain winless since June 26 at San Diego.

"I though Jordan threw the ball real well," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "He's put some starts back-to-back-to-back that have been real good. We're seeing that improvement."

Marwin Gonzalez drove in two runs and scored another, but his fielding error in the fifth inning proved costly for the Astros, who lost for the 35th time in 41 games.

Tyler Greene, who was recently acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals, finished 2 for 5 with a double, and Chris Snyder had two hits and scored a run for Houston, at 38-78 the worst team in baseball.

The Astros had the tying run at second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth after a throwing error to first and wild pitch by Kameron Loe, but the Milwaukee reliever got Gonzalez to ground out on a full count to end the game.

Whatever magic the uniforms had brought was gone.

The Astros first used their 1994-99 uniforms for Friday's series opener against Milwaukee as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the franchise.

A 4-3, last at-bat win to halt a five-game skid prompted the team — at the players' request — to don the uniforms Saturday, and, after another last at-bat win, this one 6-5 in 10 innings, again on Sunday.

The Astros won three divisional titles (1997-1999) and posted winning records in five of the six seasons wearing the blue-and-gold star uniforms beginning in 1995.

Still, the Astros embarked on a three-game road trip against the Cubs having claimed their first series since winning two of three against San Diego June 26-28.

"This is a positive change, winning two of three," Gonzalez said. "We hope it's an awakening for the team and that we continue to see positive results."

Corey Hart hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, and Yovani Gallardo beat the Astros for the 10th straight time as the Brewers broke an 11-game road skid.

Milwaukee won on the road for the first time since July 8 at Houston in its last game before the All-Star break. The Brewers had been swept at the Reds, Phillies and Cardinals since then.

Lyles allowed eight hits and four runs — two earned — in seven innings for his fifth straight loss.

"I know his record is not the best in the world," Mills said. "That's not indicative of the progress he's made and how he's throwing the ball. That's a shame.

Lyles was not stressing about his record and seemed encouraged by his latest outing.

"I just go out there every five days and try to get my team a chance to win," Lyles said. "If I get the win or someone in the bullpen gets the win, that's fine with me. The last couple of starts have been better than the res ... we're headed in the right direction."

Gallardo (11-8) held the Astros to three runs while striking out eight in 7 2-3 innings for the win, which tied the most for a pitcher against a team since Roy Halladay beat Montreal/Washington 10 straight times from 2004-11, according to information provided to the Brewers by the Elias Sports Bureau.

He allowed the Astros an early lead but quickly fell into a rhythm, and the Brewers' bats took care of the rest.

Back-to-back doubles by Green and Gonzalez in the first inning gave the Astros a 1-0 lead that would not last long.

Carlos Gomez, Jean Segura and Gallardo each singled off Lyles with two outs to tie it at 1 in the second.

The Brewers got Lyles again in the fifth. Segura singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gallardo.

Norichika Aoki reached on a throwing error by Gonzalez at shortstop and stole second, and Segura beat the throw home on a grounder by Rickie Weeks for a 2-1 lead. Ryan Braun added an RBI grounder.

"I know (Gonzalez) feels terrible, but we've talked many times about giving teams extra outs," Mills said. "That's exactly what we did that inning, and that's what hurt us."

Martin Maldonado's RBI double off reliever Mickey Storey in the eighth inning put Milwaukee up 5-2.

Scott Moore's run-scoring single with two outs in the eighth inning chased Gallardo and put the Astros within two.

NOTES: Houston C Jason Castro, on the disabled list with a right knee injury, went 3 for 3 and played nine innings behind the plate in a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday night and will be activated on Monday. The Astros optioned C Carlos Corporan after the game to make room for Castro on the roster. ... Milwaukee RHP Shaun Marcum, on the 60-day DL with tightness in his right elbow, is scheduled to make his second rehabilitation start on Wednesday for Class-A Wisconsin. ... Armando Galarraga opposes Chicago's Jeff Samardzija when the Astros open a three-game series with the Cubs on Monday. ... Milwaukee's Mike Fiers takes on Colorado LHP Jeff Francis as the Brewers travel to take on the Rockies.

NEW YORK (AP) — Forget having trouble with Derek Lowe's sinkerball. What really had Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers flummoxed was David Phelps' pickoff move.

Lowe pitched four shutout innings in his New York debut, Phelps picked off two runners while making a spot start for ace CC Sabathia and the Yankees roughed up Ryan Dempster in an 8-2 victory over the Rangers on Monday night.

"It's not a good feeling, for sure," Andrus said after being caught off second base with Nelson Cruz at the plate.

Nick Swisher hit a grand slam off Dempster and drove in five runs. Swisher's second slam this season was his 200th career homer.

Eric Chavez also homered off Dempster (1-1), the Rangers' recent acquisition.

In the opener of a four-game series between the teams with the AL's best records, the Yankees powered their way to a sixth straight victory over Texas in the Bronx.

Dempster matched a season high by allowing eight runs. The other time he allowed eight was in his first start for Texas on Aug. 2. In three starts since coming from the Cubs in a trade-deadline deal, Dempster has allowed 19 runs — 16 earned — in 17 1-3 innings. He was 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA for Chicago.

"Too much is made of that," Dempster said of switching leagues. "I know how to make pitches. When you're facing lineups and you don't get that break at the bottom of the lineup where you have the pitcher hitting, and you always have a hitter, every pitch is really, really valuable and it just comes down to executing one pitch at a time. Simple plan. Nothing more and nothing less than that. And tonight, I paid for my mistakes."

Ichiro Suzuki tripled and Derek Jeter followed with a long RBI double in the seventh to end Dempster's third start for Texas.

Swisher added an RBI single in the seventh as New York won for the fifth time in six games.

Phelps (3-3) was being held to a 75-80 pitch limit in place of Sabathia, who has a sore elbow. Phelps needed 26 pitches in the first without being hit hard. But thanks in part to a nifty pickoff move, he fulfilled his manager's wish to make it through five innings.

"I really wanted to get him through the fifth inning. I thought it was important for him," Joe Girardi said. "It's important for us, too."

Phelps turned over a 5-2 lead to Lowe in the sixth. Designated for assignment by Cleveland on Aug. 2 and released Friday, Lowe signed with New York earlier Monday and made his first appearance since July 31.

Lowe earned his first regular-season save since 2001 while with Boston, shutting down Texas on two hits. He walked none and struck out four.

Lowe went 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA for the Indians this season, and he had an 8.80 ERA in his final 12 starts for Cleveland.

"I had to get back to hiding the ball a little better," Lowe said. "I'm not going to do jumping jacks because you pitch one good game because you're in this for the long haul."

The 39-year-old right-hander, a longtime rival of the Yankees while he pitched for the Red Sox, received little notice from the fans when his name was called to start the sixth. After retiring three straight in the seventh, the crowd gave him a loud ovation.

The high-powered Rangers had ample opportunities to break open the game early against Phelps, making his fourth start and first since July 4. They scored a run in the first on a broken-bat single by Cruz and added another when David Murphy led off the second with a homer.

Phelps hit Ian Kinsler with a pitch with two outs in the second. He then picked him off first base to end the inning with Andrus at bat. Andrus opened the third with a single and advanced to second on Adrian Beltre's infield single with one out. But Phelps picked off Andrus at second for out No. 2.

"It's never fun to make baserunning mistakes," Murphy said. "We run the bases aggressively and sometimes it really works out for us and sometimes it doesn't."

Phelps allowed two runs and six hits. He struck out three and walked one.

Making his first start in the Bronx since 2000, Dempster retired his first six hitters then it fell apart in the third, when seven of the first eight batters reached.

"When he missed, they didn't miss. That team over there, you've got to execute," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "You don't execute, they make you pay."

Russell Martin led off with an opposite-field single to right and Raul Ibanez followed with a hit that fell just in front of Cruz, the right fielder. Suzuki, batting ninth for the first time in his career, sacrificed. Jeter fell behind 1-2 before walking to load the bases.

Swisher lined a shot into the second deck in right for the sixth slam of his career and a 4-2 lead. Swisher had not homered since July 19 — a drought of 61 at-bats — a day before he injured his hip flexor and missed six games.

New York loaded bases again without making an out, then Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly.

Dempster still has not beaten New York. He is 0-4 in five starts against the Yankees.

NOTES: A moment of silence was held for Red Sox player, manager and broadcaster Johnny Pesky, who died Monday at 92. ... Washington said Andrus will probably get a day at DH this series. Michael Young was working out at shortstop pregame. ... Young's 15-game hitting streak at new Yankee Stadium came to an end. He went 0 for 4.

CHICAGO (AP) — As Brandon Barnes rounded the bases to celebrate his first big league homer, the Wrigley Field faithful threw the souvenir back onto the field.

Only this time, a second ball came flying back with it.

"We got the right one," Barnes confirmed with a grin.

Barnes' shot was all the Houston Astros managed Monday night as Jeff Samardzija matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in seven innings and the Chicago Cubs won 7-1.

The Astros have lost 25 of their last 27 road games.

"After (Samardzija) got that lead, it seemed like he really started throwing the ball well," Astros manager Brad Mills said. "There was a lot of movement. He was throwing (his slider and cutter) for what looked like strikes, and they were breaking out of the zone."

Samardzija (8-10) allowed one run and four hits. He also fanned 11 at Atlanta on July 2.

"It's my first year starting so I really want to show the staff that I can pitch late in the year and still pitch late in the games late in the year," Samardzija said. "It's a big proving year for me."

Darwin Barney and Alfonso Soriano hit two-run homers and Anthony Rizzo had four hits for the Cubs, who won for just the second time in 13 games..

The crowd of 31,452 was the smallest of the season at Wrigley Field.

Barnes had a pinch-hit shot in the sixth for the Astros, who have the worst record in the majors. Called up from the minors on Aug. 7, Barnes homered in his fourth big league game.

"Amazing. Not many words I can say. It was really cool," Barnes said. "I wasn't 100 percent sure it was going out. Once I saw it was out, I was pretty excited."

Armando Galarraga (0-3) was tagged for five runs and seven hits.

"Two home runs cost me the game," Galarraga said. "Believe it or not, it was a better start than the last couple. I threw more strikes, threw everything I wanted to. I just missed those two."

Samardzija came into the game with the second-lowest run support in the majors at 3.19. Chicago had scored two or fewer runs for him in 11 of his last 12 outings.

Starlin Castro led off the Cubs second with a single and two outs later, Barney hit his sixth homer.

In the third, Rizzo singled home Josh Vitters to give Samardzija a three-run cushion.

After Rizzo singled in the fifth, Soriano hit his 21st home run.

Welington Castillo had an RBI infield single in the seventh and Vitters drove in Barney with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

NOTES: Lucas Harrell, Tuesday's scheduled starter for Houston, will try for his 10th win of the season. He ranks first among NL rookies in innings pitched. ... Cubs starter Chris Volstad will try to win his first game since July 10, 2011, on Tuesday. He has not won in 22 starts. ... Astros C Jason Castro was back in the lineup after missing nearly a month with a right knee contusion. He was 1 for 4 and struck out three times.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Volstad is not thinking about his winless skid. He's just trying to make better pitches.

Volstad gave up a three-run homer to Brett Wallace and remained winless in 23 starts, the Chicago Cubs' 10-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

"The past is in the past, so the only thing I'm concerned with is my next game," Volstad said.

Fernando Martinez also hit a three-run homer, backing Lucas Harrell's eight strong innings for Houston.

Harrell (10-8) scattered six hits and struck out six, helping the Astros win for only the third time in their last 28 road games. Harrell has allowed two runs or fewer in all seven of his starts since the All-Star break.

"Harrell came right after us," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "Looked like he threw probably 90 percent fastballs. We didn't capitalize on his aggressiveness at all."

Volstad (0-9) lasted just five innings, allowing eight hits and four runs in his latest bid for his first big league win since July 10, 2011. He is approaching the major league record of 28 held by Cliff Curtis, Matt Keough and Jo-Jo Reyes.

"There was nothing real crisp going on," Sveum said. "The command, getting the ball up. The off-speed stuff, that's what was getting hit hard."

In Volstad's first two outings since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 1, he allowed just five runs in 13 innings. He wasn't as sharp on Tuesday, but still sees some positives.

"I had a really good changeup," Volstad said. "Sinker had some good action on that. Fastball was down for the most part. Probably one or two that were elevated a little bit. I would say as far as consistency, that's getting better."

Volstad fell to 0-14 with a 5.51 ERA during his winless skid, which has been dotted with quality outings here and there.

Scott Moore added a solo shot and double twice for a career-high three extra-base hits. Jose Altuve doubled twice and had three of Houston's 13 hits.

Darwin Barney drove in the Cub's run with a fielder's choice in the seventh.

The Cubs have lost 12 of 14 and matched their season high by falling 25 games under .500, their worst record since finishing the 2006 season 30 games below break-even.

Harrell retired the first eight Cubs before Volstad singled with two outs in the third, his first hit of the season. Harrell induced two double plays and nearly got a third when Barney just beat Tyler Greene's relay in the seventh, allowing Starlin Castro to score.

Harrell got plenty of support in Houston's biggest offensive outburst since scoring 11 runs in Chicago on June 10 against the White Sox. Houston had scored just 11 runs combined in its last six losses on the road.

"Isn't that nice?" Astros manager Brad Mills said. "Besides swinging the bat, we made some defensive plays. Lucas comes out and gives us just an absolutely quality start, and gives us that opportunity."

Wallace's homer to dead center in third gave Harrell an early cushion.

Houston's five-run sixth was aided by Castro's error on a likely double-play ball, his 18th miscue of the season. He tied Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez for the most errors in the majors.

Moore doubled in Altuve in the first to open the scoring and kick off his best night as a big leaguer. Moore, who broke into the majors with the Cubs in 2006, doubled and scored in the sixth and hit a solo homer to right in the seventh.

Volstad will get another shot at breaking his funk in five days, when Sveum hopes he will see more of what he showed in his two previous starts.

"After a couple of good outings, even the outing in Triple-A, it was kind of based around one pitch," Sveum said. "I think he'll tell you his stuff wasn't what it was the last couple of outings."

NOTES: Mills said RHP Francisco Cordero (sprained ligament in toe) likely won't return until Sept. 1. ... The Cubs announced that Albert Almora, their top pick in June's draft, had been promoted from rookie league Mesa, Ariz., to Class-A Boise. Almora, 18, hit .347 with one homer, 13 RBIs and five steals in 18 games for Mesa. ... Sveum said RHP Matt Garza had not been ruled out for the season, but was still more than a week away from resuming throwing. Garza was placed on the disabled list on July 28 because of stress reaction in his right elbow.