Wandy Rodriguez pitched eight solid innings and tied a career high with nine strikeouts, leading lead the Houston Astros to a 7-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday night.

Hunter Pence had three RBIs to help the Astros to a 2-1 series win over their state rivals, Houston's second straight series win after taking two of three from Tampa Bay over the weekend.

AP

Astros pitcher Wandy Rodriguez is congratulated in the dugout after scoring from second base on a David Newhan double in the second inning.

Rodriguez (3-3) didn't allow a hit until a double by Kevin Millwood with one out in the third. He retired the next nine batters before Ian Kinsler singled with one out in the sixth.

Milton Bradley singled in the seventh before Marlon Byrd reached on an error by Miguel Tejada. Rodriguez pitched out of trouble by retiring the next three Rangers. David Murphy tripled and scored on a single by Kinsler in the eighth that made it 7-1.

The 29-year-old lefty allowed five hits and struck out nine for the first time since August when he did it against the Cubs. It was his longest outing of the year.

Pence put the Astros up early with his three-run triple that landed on the hill in center field in the first inning. Michael Bourn singled before Tejada and Lance Berkman walked to load the bases.

David Newhan, who joined the team from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, stretched Houston's lead to 5-0 when his double drove in two runs in the second inning. Newhan was 3-for-5. He scored on a single by Berkman before Berkman scored on a single by Carlos Lee to make it 7-0 after two.

Texas' Chris Davis, called up from Triple-A Oklahoma on Thursday, got his first career hit with a single off Oscar Villarreal in the ninth inning. He scored on a triple by Byrd.

Texas starter Millwood (5-4) allowed 12 hits and seven runs -- tying his season high in both categories -- in five innings. Josh Rupe, Joaquin Benoit and Jamey Wright combined for three scoreless innings for Texas.

Rangers star slugger Josh Hamilton left the game after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch from Rodriguez in the first inning. He initially didn't appear to be injured and took his base. Hamilton then played defense in the bottom half before he was replaced by Brandon Boggs in the second. X-rays were negative and he is listed as day to day.

Hamilton, who leads the majors with 76 RBIs, was back in the lineup after leaving Tuesday's game early and missing Wednesday's game with inflammation in his left knee.

Notes:@ Rangers right fielder Bradley was back in the starting lineup Thursday after not starting since straining his left quadriceps June 17. He was 1-for-3. ... Houston's 15 hits tied a season high.