McHugh weaves way through odd start

HOUSTON -- After giving up four hits -- and no runs -- to the Rangers in the first inning on Friday night, Astros starter Collin McHugh could have figured this might not be your typical night at the ballpark. He was right.

McHugh went on to allow a career-high-tying 11 hits -- all singles -- and didn't walk a batter while giving up one run en route to a 3-2 victory over the Rangers at Minute Park that snapped the Astros' six-game losing streak.

"We got kind of fortunate they were all singles," McHugh said. "You get Prince [Fielder] on base first and then he clogs up the bases a little bit, I don't know. We made some good pitches when we needed to tonight to get out of some big innings. Our guys did a really good job of putting some runs on the board early, putting pressure on them from the get-go and ended up being a really good one."

McHugh (10-5) struck out Delino DeShields to start the game before giving up four consecutive singles. The Rangers didn't score because Rougned Odor was thrown out at second base by Jake Marisnick, trying to stretch a single into a double.

Video: TEX@HOU: Marisnick throws out Odor at second base

"We've got a great defense out there," said McHugh, who is one of nine pitchers since 2010 to give up at least 11 hits and allow only one run. "I feel really confident with anybody we put out there."

The Astros turned double plays behind McHugh in the second and third. The first two batters reached in the sixth, with a throwing error by Colby Rasmus scoring Adrian Beltre. But Rasmus moments later robbed Josh Hamilton of possibly a game-tying home run at the fence.

"All in all, to get through six innings and hand the ball to a fresh bullpen with a lead, having given up one run, that's some pretty good pitching despite the hits," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

For McHugh, his biggest out, however, was getting Fielder to pop out to strand a pair of runners on base in the fifth after he had singled in his first two at-bats.

"I think it was kind of a turning point for us, and you start to smell the finish line when you get through that," he said.