HOUSTON (AP) — Cory Sullivan hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, Jeff Keppinger drove in a career-high four runs and the Houston Astros snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.
Sullivan broke a 3-all tie with a two-out single off Esmil Rogers (0-2). Tommy Manzella then reached on Colorado's second error, Michael Bourn was intentionally walked to load the bases and Keppinger capped his big night with a three-run double to left.
Brandon Lyon (3-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Matt Lindstrom finished for the Astros, whose 13 hits tied a season high. Houston salvaged a strong start from Felipe Paulino, who allowed two hits and struck out four in six innings.
Paulino also walked five, including two of the first three hitters he faced. Troy Tulowitzki's single to center in the first inning scored Dexter Fowler to make it 1-0.
The Astros immediately answered off Colorado starter Greg Smith, with Bourn leading off with a single and Keppinger driving him in with a double to left center.
Houston loaded the bases with one out in the second inning, and Pedro Feliz scored on Bourn's groundout for a 2-1 lead. Hunter Pence beat out an infield hit in the third to load the bases again with one out, but Smith fanned Feliz and got Manzella to fly out.
Paulino retired seven in a row, but then began struggling with his command again in the fourth, giving up a single to Todd Hawpe and consecutive one-out walks to Todd Helton and Miguel Olivo. Hawpe scored to make it 2-2 when Melvin Mora bounced into a fielder's choice.
Carlos Lee lined a 2-0 pitch into the left-field porch in the fifth inning, his fifth homer of the season and second in two games. Lee came into the game with only five hits in 26 at-bats against left-handed pitchers.
Paulino looked sharp again in the sixth, striking out Hawpe and Olivo. Left-hander Joe Beimel relieved Smith for the Astros' half of the sixth, and Jason Michaels pinch-hit for Paulino, who threw 100 pitches.
Chris Sampson replaced Paulino for the seventh, and Clint Barmes hit a solo homer to left to tie it at 3-3.
Barmes, playing second base, bobbled Manzella's two-out grounder off Rogers in the eighth and pinch hitter Geoff Blum drew a walk.
Sullivan then singled to left and Manzella sprinted home and slid in head first, just beating the throw from left fielder Seth Smith. The ball skipped away from Olivo, the catcher, the runners advanced and Rogers intentionally walked Bourn to load the bases.
Keppinger followed with a three-run double to the left-field corner, giving Houston its highest run total since a 9-6 win in St. Louis last Wednesday.
NOTES: Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez went 0-for-5, snapping a 12-game hitting streak. ... The Astros improved to 13-3 when scoring four runs or more. ... Astros general manager Ed Wade said that he's considering bringing up minor leaguers to help solve the team's season-long hitting woes. Houston came in with the worst team batting average (.227), run total (115) and home run total (20) in the majors. "I'm not a believer in change for the sake of change," Wade said. "But at different points in time, there is a psychological effect on a club in a positive fashion, if you're willing to do one or two things." ... Fowler made his first start since May 13.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.