HOUSTON (AP) — Yainer Diaz hit a solo home run in a three-run third inning, Cristian Javier combined with four relievers to limit Arizona to three hits and the Astros beat the Diamondbacks 3-1 on Friday night.
Houston moved a season-high four games over .500 at 73-69 with its fifth victory in the last six games. The Astros expanded their lead in the AL West to 2 1/2 games over the Texas Rangers.
The Diamondbacks have lost four of their last five games.
They fell into a tie with the San Diego Padres for the final NL wild-card spot.
Diaz led off the third with a solo home run to left. With one out, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez hit back-to-back singles before Isaac Paredes hit an RBI double. Jose Altuve followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Alvarez.
Javier (2-5) yielded one run on one hit — a solo home run to Gabriel Moreno in the fourth — and tied his season high with eight strikeouts in five innings. Javier had his first win since July 27, snapping a four-game slide.
Enyel De Los Santos allowed a hit in a third of an inning, and Bennett Sousa yielded a hit in 1 1/3 innings. Sousa escaped a bases loaded jam in the sixth inducing an inning-ending double play by Nolan Arenado.
Bryan Abreu pitched 1 1/3 innings, and Josh Hader struck out the side in the ninth for his 23rd save in as many chances. It was Hader’s 250th career save.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly (9-13) surrendered three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in six innings. He threw seven shutout innings in his last start Aug. 29 against the Giants.
RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-2, 3.49 ERA) was set to start Saturday for the Diamondbacks opposite Astros RHP Ethan Pecko (1-0, 6.23).
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