HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez of the season and Spencer Arrighetti struck out 10 in six strong innings to lead the Houston Astros to a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.
Alvarez, who took Jose Quintana deep in the third inning, is tied for second in the majors in homers.
Arrighetti (1-0) gave up two hits and one run in his first major league start this season after being recalled from Triple-A following an injury to right-hander Cody Bolton.
Houston has won two straight following an eight-game skid. The Rockies have lost six in a row after winning their previous four.
The Rockies had runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh, but Bryan Abreu retired TJ Rumfield on a groundout. Enyel De Los Santos struck out two in a scoreless ninth to get the save for a second night in a row.
Christian Walker opened the scoring for the Astros with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the first. Cam Smith followed with another sac fly.
Colorado’s Ezequiel Tovar walked to open the second and scored on a double by Willi Castro.
Troy Johnston and Castro from Arrighetti. Johnston was hit in the right thigh, and the Rockies said he had a bruised quadriceps.
Castro was hit on the right hand in the fourth and was removed from the game. Manager Warren Schaeffer said X-rays on Castro’s hand were negative but that it was swollen.
Quintana (0-1) allowed three hits and three runs while walking four in 3 2/3 innings in his return after missing more than two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Up next
Right-hander Ryan Weiss (0-2, 7.36 ERA) will start for Houston in Thursday night’s finale of the three-game series. The Rockies had not announced a starter.
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