ARLINGTON, Texas -- What looked to be a blowout and easy win for the Texas Rangers turned into a down-to-the-wire nail-biter. And when the game was on the line, Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister stuck with his guy.

He kept reliever Alex Claudio on the mound instead of making a change with two outs and a pair of men on base in the ninth as Texas clutched to a slim two-run lead over the Houston Astros. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve drew a full count, but Claudio struck him out looking to preserve the Rangers' second straight win, 6-4, and ensure the Astros' fourth consecutive loss in what is their longest losing streak of the season. Houston has dropped 10 of its last 13 games.

"The way he was pitching, it was like everything away, away, away," Altuve said. "Actually, after I saw the video the catcher was set up away and he missed in. It's kind of tough. He was away, away and I was kind of like looking at everything away and he threw me that one. I don't know if he meant to do it, but it was a really good pitch. I thought it was a ball, but it was a strike. Now tomorrow I have to apologize to the umpire."

Banister looked like he was going to pull Claudio, but the lefty convinced his manager that he could get the out, and Banister acquiesced.

"Felt like in that situation, Claudio's been our best ground-ball guy, he's been our best strike thrower out in the bullpen, mix of pitches, he's got guts," Banister said. "Love everything about him. It was his ballgame."

Texas (55-59) took this first game of the series by scoring five runs over the third through fifth innings, and Cole Hamels threw his third consecutive quality start to propel the Rangers to their first win over Houston (71-44) at Globe Life Park this season.

"It's amazing," Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said. "Believe me, we want to win them all. We know it's going to be a tough challenge. Those guys, Houston has been amazing this year.

Hamels went seven innings and allowed just three hits, improving to 7-1 with a 3.31 ERA this year. His overall record since being acquired by Texas in 2015 improved to 29-7 in 58 starts.

"His fastball was good," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He can move it, a good cutter. He kept throwing the cutter in to righties where you really couldn't do anything, foul it off into our dugout or down the left field line. An occasional slow curveball, occasional changeup. This is what he is when he's good, and it's tough to mount any kind of consecutive rally going. He was just really good tonight."

Carlos Gomez and Nomar Mazara led the Rangers with two RBIs apiece, and Andrus and Adrian Beltre each drove in a run. Andrus went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. He's collected nine doubles in August, the third time in the last six months he has recorded nine-plus doubles in a month.

Beltre's two hits brought his career total to 3,010, tied with Wade Boggs for 28th all-time.

Houston starter Charlie Morton (9-5) had his shortest outing since July 14, giving up five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, snapping a streak of three straight quality starts. He's pitched at least five innings in each of his 17 starts this year though, the longest such streak of his career and third-longest in Astros history.

Houston made a game of it late, thanks to a four-run fourth inning. The Astros were held scoreless until George Springer, in his third game back from the disabled list, hit a two-run homer off Jose Leclerc in the eighth inning.

Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Beltran each added an RBI double to narrow the gap but Mazara's diving catch in right field ended the threat.

NOTES: Houston RHP Will Harris threw off flat ground as he works back from a bone bruise and right shoulder inflammation. ... Houston RHPs Lance McCullers and Michael Feliz, as well as LHP Tony Sipp and C Evan Gattis, did not travel to Arlington and remained in Houston to work out. ... Before the game, the Rangers activated RHP Jhan Marinez, whom they claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh, and sent INF Tyler Smith to Triple-A Round Rock to make room on the roster. ... Houston OF George Springer hit his first home run since July 7. With his home run and INF Marwin Gonzalez's RBI double, Springer and Gonzalez each lead the Astros with 68 RBIs this year. ... Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre collected his 606th career double, passing Paul Molitor for 14th all-time.