Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Josh Hamilton went 5-for-5, hit two home runs, scored four times, drove in five runs and missed the cycle by a double, as the Texas Rangers pounded the Houston Astros, 16-8, in the opener of a three-game interleague set.

Michael Young and David Murphy both hit homers and drove in three runs for the Rangers, who have won three of their last four. Brandon Boggs totaled two RBI in the win. Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Chris Shelton each added solo home runs for Texas.

Sidney Ponson got the start for Texas and went five innings, giving up seven runs -- just three earned -- on nine hits in five innings, but didn't factor in the decision. Jamey Wright (2-1) pitched a perfect seventh inning to get the win.

Darin Erstad had a pair of doubles to go with his two RBI for Houston, which saw its two-game win streak halted. Carlos Lee and Kazuo Matsui each collected two hits in the loss. Lance Berkman has hit safely in 14 straight games with his 2-for-4 performance at the plate.

Shawn Chacon got the start for the Astros and was touched for eight runs -- five earned -- on six hits in 3 1/3 frames. Wesley Wright (3-1) absorbed the loss after he was knocked around for two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.

The Rangers made it 3-0 in the first. Young reached first on a throwing error by Matsui, and Hamilton made it first and second with a single. Murphy then singled up the middle to plate both runners, and came around to score on Boggs' double.

The Astros inched their way back. Lee and Erstad opened the frame with back- to-back doubles, and consecutive ground outs from Ty Wigginton and Michael Bourn scored Erstad. Houston closed it to 3-2 in the middle of the second.

Hamilton's lead off home run in the third gave the Rangers a 4-2 advantage.

Texas tacked on more runs in the fourth. Saltalamacchia led off the frame with his first homer of the year. Ramon Vazquez and Ian Kinsler then both worked walks before Hamilton deposited the first pitch he saw into the upper deck in right field. Dave Borkowski came on in relief to get out without further damage, but when all was said and done, Texas had ballooned its lead to 8-2.

Houston clawed its way back in the fifth. Wigginton singled and Bourn got on base via a throwing error by Ponson, and each advanced a base following a wild pitch. J.R. Towles grounded out to plate Wigginton and advance Bourn. Hunter Pence then singled to score Bourn, moved to second on Matsui's ground out and touched home on Miguel Tejada's double. Berkman singled to put runners on the corners, and Lee singled to bring home Tejada. Erstad blasted a double down the line to score Berkman and Lee was thrown out at home to end the rally, but the Astros cut their deficit to 8-7.

Frank Francisco took the mound for Texas in the sixth and retired Wigginton, but gave up a single to Bourn, who stole second. Pence then walked and Matsui singled up the middle to plate Bourn. The Astros tied the game at 8-8.

Wright retired Saltalamacchia and Vazquez to begin the home seventh, but Kinsler worked a walk and stole second. Young then singled to right field and Kinsler came around and barely beat the throw from Pence, touching home just before Towles applied the tag.

Houston manager Cecil Cooper came out to argue and was ejected by first base umpire Angel Hernandez.

Hamilton proceeded to lace an RBI triple down the right field line, and Doug Brocail relieved Wright on the mound. Texas jumped out to a 10-8 lead through seven frames.

Oscar Villarreal took the mound for Houston in the eighth and yielded a lead off homer to Murphy and another solo shot to Shelton a couple batters later. Saltalamacchia reached on a throwing error, Kinsler had an RBI triple and Young cleared the table with a homer to left. Hamilton then worked a walk, and Milton Bradley singled to center before Murphy hit an RBI single to put the Rangers up 16-8.

Doug Mathis came in to close it out for Texas and retired the side in the ninth.