Astros 3, Dodgers 1
HOUSTON -- Left-hander Scott Kazmir snapped a three-start losing skid as the Houston Astros made the most of their three hits in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros (68-56) recorded three extra-base hits off Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke (13-3), who suffered his first loss since June 13 at San Diego. Houston second baseman Jose Altuve finished 2-for-3 against Greinke, with a triple and a solo home run. Altuve scored twice.
Houston continued its torrid play at home, extending its streak to 12 series either won (10) or split (two). The Dodgers (67-55) will attempt to avert the sweep of this interleague series with left-hander Clayton Kershaw (10-6) on the mound in the finale on Sunday.
Kazmir, whose pitch efficiency has been an issue in August, retired the first nine batters and appeared on pace to match the productivity of his first two starts with the Astros, when he worked 14 2/3 scoreless innings. But, after surrendering consecutive hits to open the fourth inning, Kazmir began to labor.
Kazmir caught a break when Dodgers shortstop Jimmy Rollins failed in his attempt to stretch his leadoff single into a double, and he worked around a one-out infield single from right fielder Yasiel Puig. In the fifth, Kazmir was the beneficiary of a replay review that reversed the ruling of a one-out triple for second baseman Chase Utley, with Utley sent back to second when it was revealed that the ball ricocheted off the foul pole.
More hard-hit balls followed in the sixth, and this time Kazmir could not avoid surrendering a run when Rollins doubled and third baseman Justin Turner added an RBI single. But Kazmir did preserve his lead with a strikeout of Scott Van Slyke before Utley rolled into a groundout with runners on the corners.
Kazmir (7-8) departed with a 2-1 lead having allowed six hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.
The Astros' two-run lead came courtesy of their usual power against the typically infallible Greinke. Altuve tripled and scored in the first inning on a misplayed ground ball by Turner, and he reinforced the lead with his solo home run with two outs in the sixth -- his 10th homer of the season.
First baseman Luis Valbuena struck with two outs in the second, blasting a 3-2 pitch 411 feet to the back of the home bullpen in right-center field. It was his team-leading 22nd homer.
NOTES: With RHP Lance McCullers rejoining the rotation on Sunday and the Astros scheduled for a day off Thursday, RHP Mike Fiers won't pitch again until Saturday in Minnesota at the earliest. Fiers threw 134 pitches while tossing his first no-hitter on Friday night against the Dodgers. ... Dodgers CF Joc Pederson, with an OPS .183 lower against left-handed pitchers than right-handers, was absent from the lineup against Astros LHP Scott Kazmir. The Dodgers aim to keep INF/OF Kike Hernandez, who hit .440 (11-for-25) during a six-game hitting streak that ended on Friday night, in the lineup as well as recently acquired 2B Chase Utley. ... Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig returned to the lineup after missing two games with a right hamstring strain.