HOUSTON -- The last time Colby Lewis had two RBIs, it helped the Texas Rangers to the second victory of what would become an 11-game winning streak in 2010. Texas manager Ron Washington is hoping his pitchers performance on Sunday means good things are ahead for his team. Lewis allowed four hits in eight-plus innings and drove in two runs, and the Rangers took a five-run lead in the first inning before coasting to a 6-1 win over the Houston Astros. It was the first time a Rangers pitcher had driven in any runs since Lewis also drove in two in a win over Milwaukee on June 13, 2010, and hes the only Rangers pitcher with an RBI since 2006. "It was awesome," said Washington of Lewis, who also had a single in the fifth. "The last time he did that we went on an 11-game winning streak, so I hope thats a sign." Lewis (4-3) capped the Rangers first-inning scoring with a bases-loaded, two-out single to centre field to score two. "That was a huge hit and it did a lot for his confidence," Washington said. The Rangers got to Houston starter Jordan Lyles early, scoring on a sacrifice fly by Josh Hamilton and adding two more on a single by Nelson Cruz before the hit by Lewis. "I always like playing on the National League side and getting some hits in and hacks in, or whatever you want to call it," Lewis said. "It was a lot of fun. It keeps me more involved. I love the National League side of things." His performance marked the eighth time an AL pitcher has had two hits and two RBI since interleague play began in 1997. He has two of those after also collecting two hits in his other two-RBI game in 2010. Lewis didnt allow a run until Jed Lowries solo shot to right field to start the ninth. He was replaced by Robbie Ross, who allowed one hit. It was the longest outing of the season for Lewis, who walked one and struck out six. "He was quite sharp today," Washington said. "He had a good breaking ball working, and he was able to spot his fastball and he had a real good changeup." The performance allowed Lewis to bounce back from a string of three straight losses, where he allowed a combined 19 runs and 23 hits. "Things didnt go my way in the last couple of starts, so I just wanted to bounce back and go deep into the game," he said. David Murphy added a solo home run in the fifth inning, a day after hitting his first career inside-the-park homer for Texas. Lyles (0-1) yielded nine hits and six runs -- both season highs -- in five innings in his third start. The 21-year-old, who has spent most of the season in Triple-A, walked three and struck out six. "He couldnt get a feel for the ball," Houston manager Brad Mills said. "He had problems locating his pitches in that first inning." Jose Altuve hit a leadoff double for the Astros before Lewis walked Carlos Lee with two outs. Lewis retired the next nine Astros after that, and Houston didnt have another baserunner until a single by Travis Buck with two outs in the fourth. But Lewis retired Chris Johnson to end that inning. Lewis retired the side in the fifth before Altuve singled to start the sixth. He sent down the next nine Astros before he was chased by Lowries homer. Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus hit consecutive singles in the first inning before Kinsler scored on the sacrifice fly by Hamilton. Michael Young hit a two-out double before Lyles intentionally walked Murphy to load the bases. The walk backfired when Cruz knocked a line drive single to left field to score two and push the lead to 3-0. Lyles then plunked Yorvit Torrealba before the two-RBI single by Lewis. Kinsler grounded out to end the inning. There was some confusion in the second inning when Young was batting with two out and two strikes. Young took a pitch for a strike, but the home plate umpire thought it was only strike two. After Lee and Lyles protested, holding up three fingers, he asked the first base umpire and realized it was the third strike and patted Young on the shoulder to leave. Cruz singled in the ninth inning on a fly ball to centre field, but was out when he passed Young on the basepath as Young headed back to first. NOTES: Texas Japanese star Yu Darvish will face Seattle for the second time on Monday when he opposes right-hander Felix Hernandez. Darvish yielded eight hits, five runs and four walks in 5 2-3 innings in an 11-5 win in his major league debut against the Mariners on April 9. "Although it is my second time facing those guys, my first time I really wasnt able to display the type of pitching that I wanted to," Darvish, who allowed four runs in the first inning before settling down, said through a translator. "But I think this time Ill probably have a better approach in pitching to these guys."... Houston CF Jordan Schafer was doing much better on Sunday, a day after injuring his leg avoiding a collision in centre field. Mills said he has a muscle strain on his lower right leg and expects him to return by Wednesday. ... Houstons Bud Norris is set to pitch against Matt Garza when the Astros and Cubs open a three-game series Monday. cheap jerseys . Mathews was injured on his first carry of the preseason in the first quarter and did not return to the game. He is expected to have surgery Friday morning and coach Norv Turner said hell be out four to six weeks. wholesale jerseys from china . PAUL, Minn. http://www.chinanfljerseyswholesal... . -- The home of Sporting Kansas City has a new name following a disagreement between the Major League Soccer team and the cancer charity founded by Lance Armstrong. [url=http://www.chinanfljerseyswholesale.com/]nfl jerseys china . Pittsburgh also got minor league pitcher Kyle Kaminska for minor league outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and the extra draft pick for 2013 that the Pirates won in the competitive balance lottery for financially weaker teams. wholesale nfl jerseys .25 million. Foligno, acquired in a trade last week for defenceman Marc Methot, has 61 goals and 87 assists with 299 penalty minutes in 351 career games, all with the Ottawa Senators. VAL THORENS, France -- Canadian Brady Leman says he wont be satisfied with anything less than first place in his next skicross race. The Calgary native continues to shine on the World Cup circuit after winning his second silver medal in as many races Wednesday. But after two close losses, Leman wants his turn on top of the podium. "Im always happy to be on the podium for sure -- Im proud of what I did today -- but that said, I want to win, Im not out there to come second," he said after Wednesdays result. Leman was edged by Armin Niederer of Switzerland, who won the race in Val Thorens. Niederer also leads Leman in the overall World Cup standings. Dave Duncan of London, Ont., finished fourth, after both Canadian skiers had trouble out of the gate. "Both Dunc and I kind of messed up out of the gate. I hooked my ski on something, I dont know what happened really," said Leman. It left him third at the start but he passed American Joe Swensson and had a chance to pass Niederer. "He must have sensed it and did a nice little swerve to keep me behind him." Duncan couldnt get past Swensson to get into third. "I had two amazing starts and two not so amazing starts," he said of the crowded day, which crammed in training, qualifiers and final after weather issues the previous two days. "In the final I just missed my pole out of the gate, the initial pole, and those three guys took off on me and I couldnt make a pass on Joe Swensson to get into third." Coach Eric Archer says both skiers are performing well. "Theyre experienced, they know what theyre doing," he said. "Its only a matter of time until were standing on the top of the podium with either one of those guys." Louis-Pierre Helie, of Berthierville, Que., finished 18th overall, Tristan Tafel, of Canmore, Alta., 23rd and Mathhieu Leduc, of Comox, B.ddddddddddddC., failed to qualify and finished 45th. Reigning world champion Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, B.C., finished 15th after being eliminated in the quarter-final round and was the top Canadian on the womens side. Calgarys Danielle Sundquist missed qualifying by one spot, finishing 17th. Marielle Thompson, of Whistler, B.C., last years Crystal Globe winner as World Cup champion, was 23rd and Mariannick Therer, of Saint-Sauveur, Que., was 27th. Archer suggests Thompson has to push a little harder if she wants to repeat her breakout year. "She needs to be more aggressive," he said. "Every year we come back and the womens and the mens field is getting tougher and tougher. If youre not pushing full gas its just not going to happen." Meanwhile, Archer said a knee injury suffered last week by mens team member Ian Deans of Kelowna is more serious that originally thought and will require surgery to repair damage to his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament. "Hes young and well keep him on the list and get him back and get him ready for next year." The Canadian team was rocked by the death of Nik Zoricic of head injuries sustained in a crash during a World Cup race in Grindelwald, Switzerland last March at the age of 29. It prompted calls to improve safety and Archer suggests things are improving. "We were way up in the alpine and there were no trees anywhere," he said of the French course. "Spill zones were immense." He says communication seems more open between athletes and officials. "I think were moving in a positive direction in that respect." The teams new uniforms pay tribute to Zoricic, and Archer says his loss is still felt. "Its hard to get going again and Im surprised that were seeing the results this quickly," he said. ' ' '