HOUSTON, April 3 (UPI) -- Nelson Cruz held his former club to two hits and a walk in five innings and Bobby Estalella homered twice Thursday as the Colorado Rockies salvaged the finale of their three-game series with the Houston Astros, 10-5.
With a host of young arms in the system, Houston traded away the 30-year-old Cruz in mid-December. He was ticketed for long relief with the Rockies, but got a chance to start following injuries to Denny Neagle and Denny Stark.
On Thursday, he allowed two runs but kept Colorado close enough to notch the win when the offense erupted in the fifth. The win was his fourth in 12 career starts.
Trailing in the fifth, 2-1, the Rockies got to Houston rookie starter Jeriome Robertson (0-1). Jose Hernandez led off with a walk and Estalella launched his second homer of the game to give Colorado the lead for good.
Chris Stynes followed with a double and was sacrificed over. Ron Belliard made it 4-2 with a single and Jay Payton followed with a base hit. Todd Helton made it 6-2 with a double into the left-center field gap and, after Preston Wilson singled, Walker launched a long two-run triple to center field.
Robertson was tagged for eight runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3.
