Rangers, Hamilton Smack Astros

Josh Hamilton went 5-for-5 with two long homers and five RBIs, and the Texas Rangers, with six home runs total, beat the Houston Astros 16-8 Friday night in a wild Lone Star Series opener. Ian Kinsler scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a close play that led to the ejection of Astros manager Cecil Cooper.

Hamilton's second homer, a three-run shot off the facade of the second deck of seats in right, gave Texas an 8-2 lead in the fourth. After Houston rallied to tie it, Kinsler drew a two-out walk in the seventh, stole second base and came home on Michael Young's single, scoring just ahead of the tag by catcher J.R. Towles. (More MLB stories.)