Pat Sullivan / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ivan Rodriguez, 37, signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Astros in March and went on to hit .251 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 93 games.

Teagarden grew up in the Dallas suburb of Carrollton when Rodriguez was in his prime with the Rangers.

“Watching him play when I was a kid, you idolized him,” Teagarden said. “I have a chance to learn some things about how he handles himself on the field.”

Houston manager Cecil Cooper said he’ll use Chris Coste and Humberto Quintero as catchers the rest of the season. The players seemed to view the move as a signal that the Astros were looking beyond this season. They started Tuesday 10 games behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

“At some point in the season, you get too far behind and you have to start looking forward to next year,” said pitching ace Roy Oswalt. “If you don’t, you can just throw yourself into another rut at the beginning of next year, trying to find pieces here and there, late in the season.”

To make room for Rodriguez, the Rangers designated catcher Kevin Richardson for assignment. They have 10 days to trade, release or outright him to the minor leagues.

Nevarez, a 22-year-old right-hander, has nine saves and a 2.83 ERA in 34 relief appearances for Class A Hickory. He’s allowed just 22 hits with 50 strikeouts in 35 innings.

The Rangers also placed infielder Esteban German on the disabled list with a right groin strain, retroactive to Friday. The team recalled right-handed reliever Guillermo Moscoso from Triple-A Oklahoma to fill his spot on the active roster.

Moscoso was 5-3 with a 2.17 ERA in 10 games with Oklahoma. He has made five relief appearances for the Rangers, allowing four earned runs in 8 1/3 innings.

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Tony Gutierrez / AP

More heroics from Hamilton

Josh Hamilton fights off illness to hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning, lifting the Texas Rangers to an 8-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Angels win as Pujols HR streak up to 3 games

SEATTLE (AP) - Albert Pujols hit a home run in his third straight game and pinch hitter Alberto Callaspo came through with a grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Los Angeles Angels a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

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