Boston 8, Houston 4

BOSTON, June 14 (UPI) -- Derek Lowe recorded 20 of 22 outs on the ground and David Ortiz drove in three runs Satuday as Boston posted an 8-4 triumph over Houston.

Lowe (7-3) won his third straight start, after being staked to a 6-2 lead. The 29-year-old righthander had 20 groundouts -10 fielded by rookie third baseman Freddy Sanchez. He allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Houston starter Tim Redding (4-5) was tagged for six runs - just two earned - and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and threw just 50 of 89 pitches for strikes.

Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell, a former Boston farmhand, hit his first homer in 140 at-bats - the longest drought of his career.