DENVER (AP) — Roy Oswalt struck out nine, Humberto Quintero homered and the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies 5-4 Thursday for their third straight victory.
Quintero got three hits and Tommy Manzella drove in a career-high three runs as the Astros won for the ninth time in 12 games.
Oswalt (4-8) gave up four hits over seven innings and left with a 5-2 lead.
Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki had two hits each for the Rockies, who have lost six of eight.
Quintero led off the fifth with his third home run to give Houston a 3-2 lead.
The Astros added two runs in the sixth. Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence walked with one out, Quintero singled to short to load the bases and Manzella looped a two-run single over second to make it 5-2.
That was all the run support Oswalt needed. The right-hander struck out the side in the first and was in control except for Colorado's two-run fourth. He allowed two runs and four hits and walked two in seven innings.
With Oswalt out of the game, the Rockies rallied in the eighth. Carlos Gonzalez, Helton and Tulowitzki led off with singles against reliever Wilton Lopez to make it 5-3. Gustavo Chacin came on and struck out Brad Hawpe before giving up a single to Ryan Spilborghs to load the bases.
Casey Daigle relieved Chacin, and after a fielder's choice scored Helton to make it 5-4, he got pinch-hitter Jason Giambi to fly out to end the threat.
Brandon Lyon worked the ninth to notch his first save.
The Astros jumped ahead in the second inning on Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin (3-5). With one out, Pence walked and Pedro Feliz reached on third baseman Ian Stewart's throwing error. Quintero's double down the left-field line scored Pence and Feliz came home on Manzella's sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Chacin allowed five runs, four earned, and four hits. He struck out eight and walked three in six innings.
The Rockies tied it in the fourth when Helton led off with a single and went to third on Tulowitzki's single, who advanced to second on the throw. Hawpe's ground out to second scored Helton and Tulowitzki scored on Seth Smith's shallow fly to center to make it 2-2.
NOTES: Astros RHP Bud Norris (biceps tendinitis) threw a side session Thursday and will pitch a simulated game this weekend. ... Rockies RHP Huston Street (inflamed right shoulder) will throw an inning for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Thursday and Friday. ... RHP Chris Sampson (rotator cuff tendinitis) will throw a simulated game on Saturday.
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