Astros clobber Arizona early, win 9-4
PHOENIX — The Houston Astros had six extra-base hits in the first four innings, building a big -nough lead to hold off the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4 on Tuesday.
The Astros managed only four hits over the last five innings, but one was Max Stassi’s solo home run in the ninth.
Houston jumped to an 8-0 lead in the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Brad Peacock couldn’t get out of the bottom of the fifth, so Francis Martes (5-2) came on and struck out all four batters he faced in 1 1/3 innings for the victory.
Peacock’s double gave the Astros a 7-0 lead after Diamondback starter Anthony Banda intentionally walked eighth-place hitter Jake Marisnick to put runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the third.
The Astros scored five runs off Banda in the second inning on three doubles, a triple, a single and a wild pitch. Four runs came with two outs, as George Springer’s double drove in Marisnick and Stassi, and Alex Bregman tripled into the right-field corner to drive in Springer.
Springer raised his American League-leading batting average with runners in scoring position and two outs to .462.
Banda (1-3) threw a wild pitch and Bregman raced home with the final run of the inning. Stassi, called up from the minors Monday when catcher Brian McCann was placed on the disabled list, recorded his first hits and runs batted in of the season.
Yuli Gurriel hit the Astros’ second triple of the game in the fourth, driving in Jose Altuve. It was Gurriel’s first career triple.
Peacock had a no-hitter through three but only lasted 4 2/3 innings, finishing with nine strikeouts and a walk. Banda went four innings and was charged with eight runs and nine hits with four strikeouts and three walks.