Rangers 16, Astros 5: A.J. Pierzynski went 4-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs and Ian Kinsler drove in three runs as host Texas continued its dominance of lowly Houston by recording a season high for runs scored.

Pierzynski singled in the first two runs as well as the final one of an 11-run third inning in which the Rangers sent 15 batters to the plate. The catcher added a seventh-inning homer as Texas remained one-half game ahead of Oakland in the American League West and beat the Astros for the 12th time in 14 meetings this season.

Matt Garza (3-1) struck out eight and allowed one run over the first six innings before Houston scored four times in the seventh. Astros starter Lucas Harrell (6-14) gave up nine runs (seven earned) and seven hits in 2 1/3 frames.

Every starter in Texas' lineup scored at least once, with Leonys Martin and Elvis Andrus each crossing the plate three times. Mitch Moreland and Kinsler joined Pierzynski in having two-RBI hits during the third-inning outburst that gave the Rangers a 15-1 lead.

Robbie Grossman had a two-run double during Houston’s four-run seventh. Rookie infielder Jake Elmore pitched a perfect eighth for the Astros, who are 4-3 on their nine-game road trip.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Rangers have scored 31 runs in their last two victories. They tallied 15 against Seattle on Saturday. … Astros C Carlos Corporan left after three innings with an apparent head injury after being hit by a foul tip. … The third-inning outburst was the highest for Texas since an 11-run frame against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 26, 2009.