George Springer hit a pair of solo home runs and Colby Rasmus added a three-run shot as the Houston Astros doubled up the Colorado Rockies 6-3 Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
Carlos Correa had three hits and scored a run for the Astros, who have won three of four following a seven-game losing streak. Dallas Keuchel (8-2) gave up three runs on four hits and walked two in 6 2/3 innings.
Nick Hundley had two hits and one RBI for Colorado, which has dropped five of six. Chad Bettis (2-2), a Texas native, allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings.
The Rockies brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Luke Gregerson started a game-ending 1-6-3 double play to earn his 16th save.
The Astros started the first inning with three consecutive singles by Springer, Correa and Preston Tucker, the last of which produced a run. After Evan Gattis struck out swinging, Rasmus deposited a pitch from Bettis into the bullpen behind the right-center field wall for a 4-0 lead.
Springer made it 5-0 with a two-out blast to left field in the second.
Perfect through the first five innings, Keuchel walked Rafael Ynoa to begin the sixth. Hundley followed with Colorado's first hit, a solid single to left field.
Springer made a diving catch in right for the second out in the inning, but Keuchel gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Troy Tulowitzki and Nolan Arenado.
Keuchel was lifted after Hundley brought the Rockies to within 5-3 with a two- out run-scoring double in the seventh. Charlie Blackmon flied out to right against reliever Joe Thatcher to end the inning.
Springer homered off LaTroy Hawkins to begin the seventh.
[SportsNetwork.com]
